WILDLIFE PROJECTS

Tara Hayter, the Park's Head Keeper & Education Officer, is actively involved in a number of conservation projects both locally and internationally.

SANCCOB (South Africa’s Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds)

SANCCOB is a non- profit rehabilitation centre based in Cape Town that aims to conserve South Africa’s vulnerable seabirds. 
It was estimated that there were about 1.5 million adult African penguins along the southern African coast in the 1930’s. Human activities have reduced this number by a staggering 90% in less than a century. The African penguin, together with over a dozen other sea bird species found in South Africa, is considered to be threatened and vulnerable to extinction. The centre established since 1968 has treated over 85000 seabirds including the endangered African Penguin.

Not only is the centre responsible for the rehabilitation of sick, injured, oiled or orphaned seabirds but it also aims to raise awareness about conservation through environmental education and research.

With a small staff component, SANCCOB relies heavily on the help of local and International volunteers.
Therefore with the support of Seaview Wildlife Encounter, in October 2009 Tara took the opportunity to spend six weeks volunteering at the centre.

Whilst there, Tara was actively involved with the rehabilitation of many different seabirds including Cape Cormorants, African Penguins, Cape Gannets and White Pelicans!

Volunteer duties included handling, feeding, hydrating as well as the washing and rinsing of sea birds. Perhaps the biggest challenge however was hand rearing over 90 African penguin chicks rescued from Dyer Island. However despite all the cuts and bruises, artificial rearing of orphaned African penguin chicks by SANCCOB is a proven tool to bolster the population of African Penguins in the wild.

If You would like to help SANCCOB save South Africa’s seabirds you can:

• Adopt A Penguin 
• Support the Rescue Campaign
• Become a member 
• Become a volunteer 

Please visit www.sanccob.co.za

BDLMR (British Divers Marine Life Rescue)

British Divers Marine Life Rescue is an organisation dedicated to the rescue and well being of all marine animals in distress around the UK.

BDMLR is a registered charity and is operated entirely by volunteers. Rescue teams are on call 24 hours a day to deal with strandings of marine animals, oil spills, fishing gear entanglement and in fact any type of marine animal in trouble, 365 days a year.
Since 1988, BDMLR have been involved in the rescue of marine wildlife after every major marine disaster, including the Braer shipwreck in Shetland and the Sea Empress grounding in Milford Haven.

Seal rescue has remained a major component of the work of the charity, with BDMLR medics routinely rescuing seals in all seasons. Over the years, many hundreds of seals have been helped, the charity working closely with specialist rehabilitation facilities to ensure their long term care and eventual return to the wild.
Every year, BDMLR trains over 400 volunteer Marine Mammal Medics and has 20 whale rescue pontoons located at strategic points throughout the UK, waiting to help stranded whales and dolphins.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

· Become a member
· Fundraising
· Make a donation
· Train to become a Marine Mammal Medic (dates and locations on website)

Please visit www.bdmlr.org.uk

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Shoresearch Project

Shoresearch is a fun and interactive survey and recording scheme run by the marine team of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust in which volunteers help identify the habitats and wildlife that exist along our local shore. 

Tara has been Shoresearch Volunteer Co- ordinator on the Isle of Wight since 2008 and has conducted a number of surveys on the local shores of the Isle of Wight.

Shoresearch not only helps to increase our overall knowledge and understanding of our local marine environment but also helps to identify and monitor changes that may affect the marine life e.g. climate change, invasive species, local developments. 

Therefore volunteers are essential in order to ensure that valuable information is collected and action is taken to help preserve our biodiversity-rich shorelines.

If you would like to learn more about your local shore and the marine life it contains PLEASE get in touch, GET YOUR WELLIES ON and JOIN US in the SPRING! Surveys will be taking place on the Island but dates are yet to be confirmed.

Booking is essential so please fill out a booking form and email it to shoresearch@hwt.org.uk to register your interest and we’ll contact you with further details.