VETERINARY
SANCCOB’s seabird hospitals are registered with the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) dedicated to treating seabirds. Showcasing a state-of-the-art seabird hospital in Cape Town, we can complete almost all our diagnostic and veterinary treatment in-house. Dedicated facilities are available for our full-time clinical veterinarian to provide the best possible treatment to seabird patients. SANCCOB Gqeberha houses a modest surgery where minor surgical procedures are performed onsite, however we have partnered with a local veterinary clinic for X-Rays and more complex surgical procedures.
A high percentage of the seabirds admitted are abandoned African penguin chicks. Many abandoned chicks arrive in poor body condition and are suffering from malnutrition, dehydration and parasite infestations upon admittance. These cases require veterinary intervention to address these problems, which are performed in conjunction with a progressive hand rearing methodology.
One of the most common diseases that causes seabirds to arrive at SANCCOB is botulism, which presents as a temporary paralysis, caused by the toxin from a bacterium.
Botulism mainly affects gull species and Great White Pelicans, however if rescued and treated timeously, there is a good chance of survival. SANCCOB has also dealt with severe outbreaks of novel diseases in wild birds, most recently avian influenza, which affected large numbers of critically endangered species.
Depending on the reason for admittance of the individual patient, the veterinary team will diagnose, draw up a treatment plan with the rehabilitation team and monitor each patient’s response to treatment. It is possible to treat and rehabilitate severely injured seabirds, providing that rapid rescue and transfer to SANCCOB’s seabird hospital. Seabirds that have lost a lot of blood through a trauma incident may be candidates for a blood transfusion and seabirds suffering from fractured bones may be eligible for fracture repair.
The objective of veterinary treatment is to ensure we minimise pain and suffering; however, the ultimate goal is to assess whether seabirds in our care can be successfully treated, rehabilitated and released back to the wild.