Two gannets being taken from Malgas for rehabilitation at Sanccob. During the 2023/2024 financial year, members on duty also assisted with upgrading the facilities on the islands, including building, electrical, plumbing and painting. This year there were only 69 individual pelicans seen on Jutten, and 22 on Malgas. However, time was also spent chasing seals and rescuing injured birds. The injured birds were taken to SANCCOB. Members on duty are also required to count the dead animals they encounter. During the 2023/2024 season, over 50 rabbits died of a highly contagious disease. These feral European rabbits were introduced to feed workers during the guano collecting era. On Jutten, there was a mass abandonment of nests by the cormorants, with more than 800 deaths recorded. It is thought that the adults moved away due to an unavailability of fish prey to sustain the birds. Members also assist with recording data for use by scientists and the Cape Research Centre in their management plans for the islands. Particularly heartening were good counts of African Black Oystercatchers and higher numbers of African Penguins. On Jutten, a new rainwater system for washing and cleaning was installed. A storeroom was converted to a new bathroom and a new storeroom and workshop were constructed. Walls, stoeps, doors and windows were painted. The ‘Pelican Watch’ Project aims to mitigate threats to breeding birds such as Cape Gannet, on Jutten and Malgas Islands in the West Coast National Park. SHR members camp on the island to protect the breeding birds by chasing marauding pelicans and seals. 110 SANParks Honorary Rangers 2024 BIRD CONSERVATION IN THE WEST COAST NATIONAL PARK Members’ activities continued
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