South African Penguins

  South Africa

• Cape Town: 
Cape Town (Kaapstad)

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: Inquire for specific dates.

Description: Research Mission
Help protect biodiversity at a World Heritage Site hosting the world's third-largest colony of African penguins.

Situation Report
Robben Island, South Africa - Infamous as Nelson Mandela's former incarceration site, this island is a hotspot for seabird biodiversity, including threatened bank cormorants, African black oystercatchers, and 15,000 African penguins. It also lies in the middle of major shipping lanes, and the risk of oil spills to local seabirds has been well-documented. The worst oil spill was in the year 2000, when 13,000 penguins were "oiled" on Robben Island alone. Most of these were cleaned and released, but the future of this penguin population, reduced by 90 percent in the last century, is by no means assured. You can help a team of scientists, coordinated by Dr. Les Underhill, Dr. Robert Crawford (Marine and Coastal Management), and Dr. Peter Barham (University of Bristol), monitor seabirds on the island to help reduce the impact of future spills.

Meals and Accommodations
You will share rooms in a simple but comfortable island house, formerly occupied by prison staff, just a 15-minute walk from the edge of the penguin colony. The house has electricity, a flush toilet, and hot and cold running water. The food is good, with plenty of South Africa's famous fresh fruits and vegetables, and excellent meats. Team members will largely plan their own menus and rotate cooking and cleanup duties in the large and well-equipped kitchen.

Highlights: On the Expedition
Your team will participate in a variety of research activities to monitor the health of this unique island environment, working with several experienced researchers and staff members. You will conduct population surveys on penguins and other seabirds to determine their breeding success and survival and help with ongoing trials of a revolutionary new automatic system being designed to detect and recognize individual penguins as they pass remote cameras. Your research will bring you face-to-face with the daily rhythms of the island and the problems seabirds face, such as predation by seals and competition with fisheries. Besides raucous seabirds, Robben Island harbors several species of antelope, ostriches, ibises, and egrets. On free days you can take the ferry to the mainland and enjoy some of Africa's premier tourist spots, including the Cape Town Waterfront and Table Mountain.

Qualifications: Earthwatch volunteers are enthusiastic to learn about the research topic and are willing to contribute their time and energy to support leading scientists in conducting field research. Volunteers will be trained upon arrival at the research site. Teams have a minimum age of 18, unless accompanied by parent or legal guardian, in which case the minimum age is 16.

Cost in US$: 2,746

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Earthwatch expeditions appeal to a variety of people: educators gain new knowledge and develop exciting lesson plans; students explore career options and build research skills; writers, photographers and artists contribute their skills and share their experiences through a variety of media; businessmen and women, doctors and nurses, engineers, homemakers, retirees . . . people from all walks of life choose to volunteer on research expeditions each year. Volunteers are actively engaged on a daily basis with the research project, develop global perspectives, and explore new cultures and environments.

Age Range: 18 - 90

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 3-5

Scholarships are Available. Fellowships may be available, mainly for high-school students and educators. Visit our website for more information.

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Earthwatch Institute's Mission Statement: Earthwatch Institute engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Through a unique method of funding, the volunteers Share of Cost contributes directly to the support of the research projects. Earthwatch enables scientists to pursue research goals and members of the public to gain hands-on experience with science. Each year, over 4,000 people from 46 countries directly contribute to scientific research by working alongside scientists, local community members and other volunteers. Earthwatch volunteers can track sea turtles; join archaeological digs; observe animal behavior; collect rare plants, study dolphin behavior and more. The Earthwatch community also includes 20,000 global members, 4,000 eager volunteers each year, 50 collaborating conservation organizations, and 50 corporate partners, all of whom work together to make a difference. Below you will find out more about our leadership, employment opportunities, and contact information.

Year Founded: 1971