African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary

The African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) is a project of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust. Opened in 2015, the APSS is as a custom-designed marine bird rehabilitation center. As a result of over fishing, by-catch and oil pollution, the population for many of the African endemic species of seabird is at an all time low, and their slow rate of breeding means that their numbers are struggling to compensate. The endangered African penguin colonies of Dyer Island have declined dramatically (almost 90% over 30 years). The APSS was founded to address these issues directly by rescuing, researching, and rehabilitating these unique marine species. The world-class seabird sanctuary in Gansbaai has a fully equipped lab and a vet on standby to treat birds immediately, thereby increasing the survival rate, while at the same time is creating much-needed awareness around the perils marine birds face out in the wild