When and why do seabirds need to be rescued?
Seabirds are mostly confined to the Namibian island colonies during breeding seasons, therefore ongoing monitoring is necessary to identify seabirds that are injured, abandoned, oiled, or suffering from disease or infection. Seabirds are vulnerable to several threats and without necessary conservation interventions, mortality of endangered or threatened seabirds will rise.
Dedicated NAMCOB rangers working in conjunction with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) will monitor seabird species and intervene if necessary and transfer compromised seabirds to the seabird rehabilitation facility for assessment and treatment. In addition, sick seabirds are rescued, or reported along the coastline by members of the public.
What rehabilitation involves
Seabirds admitted for rehabilitation require a clinical examination and are issued a treatment and rehabilitation plan based on their condition. The rehabilitation process is largely dependent on the individual bird and its diagnosis; however, generally follows a specific feeding, swimming, medication, and treatment schedule. Depending on the nature of injury or illness birds usually spend between 4-16 weeks undergoing rehabilitation before being released back into the wild. During rehabilitation, staff evaluate each bird weekly to assess its health, blood results, weight, and the waterproofing of its feathers. Prior to release, each bird receives an implanted transponder which is injected under their skin and is used for research and monitoring purposes post-release. Birds that meet the release criteria are released back where they belong, into the wild where they can continue to contribute to the wild population.
