SANCCOB stands for the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds. Their primary objective is to reverse the decline of seabird populations through the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of ill, injured, abandoned, and oiled seabirds – especially critically endangered species like the African Penguin, according to their website.

April 16, 2026

My name is Alice Becker and I am the primary Humboldt Penguin keeper at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. But! For these two weeks, I am in South Africa helping SANCCOB care for wild African Penguin Chicks!

SANCCOB (South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) is an organization in South Africa that protects and rehabilitates the local seabird populations. For the past few months, they have been experiencing an unusual surge in African penguin eggs and chicks for this time of year. So, they put out a call for volunteers on the AZA forums asking for animal care professionals to come lend some hands. I happily volunteered!

Now you may ask, why is this work important?

African penguins have been declared a critically endangered species and have been projected to be extinct by 2035. When first recorded, their population totaled to about 4 million individuals. On the most recent count, their numbers have dropped to approximately 16,000 and the population is struggling against habitat loss, over-fishing, avian influenza, and other factors.

Like the Humboldt Penguins, African Penguins will lay two eggs that the parents will share responsibilities in raising to adulthood. However, sometimes the adults will struggle in caring for their young and can abandon their nests. This can be due to multiple factors such as environmental disturbance, parents being too inexperienced, the colony getting sick, etc. There are several managing authorities who monitor the colonies and conduct rescues if there are eggs or chicks in need. When rescues occur, the authorities will reach out to SANCCOB to arrange for the chicks and eggs to be taken in. There, they are incubated, hatched, and reared by round-the-clock staff with the goal of releasing these penguins back into the wild population. This is critical for helping to boost the population and hopefully ensuring its conservation.

As I continue working over the next two weeks, I will be sure to post periodic updates to let you know what I am up to!