Dyer Island Marine Experience, Western Cape

Penguin and Shark Conservation

Selecting only a few students per two weeks, the Dyer Island Marine Experience will bring elements of the Wildlife Conservation in South Africa course to life with a combination of penguin rehabilitation, marine protection, shark research, plus marine veterinary exposure on demand. The experience includes the following highlights…

• Inspiring marine and coastal conservation
• Heart-warming penguin sanctuary support
• Rare and groundbreaking shark research
• Credible biologists, researchers and vets
• 24-hour support crew
• Professional airport pick up and drop off
• Complementing activities and conservation topics
• And fantastic cottage accommodation

What you will be doing

Penguin Sanctuary

Focus – Penguin Rehabilitation (and Veterinary Medicine on request)

Project – Dyer Island Conservation Trust

Summary – African penguin conservation includes a nest project providing critical protection to the penguins during their fledgling stage. South Africa’s endemic penguin species would normally burrow into their mass deposits of guano but sadly, this was stripped by man over many decades and used for agricultural fertilizer.

The Trust participate in all top-level conversations related to the African Penguin Biodiversity Management Plan – this includes the habitat working group and oil disaster strategy planning. APSS is visited by at least 20 000 people every year who observe feeding time on a screen without disturbing the birds in our care.

In 2015 the Trust opened its own rehabilitation facility in Gansbaai – the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, known as APSS. With a fully equipped lab and a vet on standby, injured, oiled or ill birds can immediately be treated thereby increasing their survival rate. Penguins are released on or close to their home colony of Dyer Island.

Shark Research

Focus – Marine Biology

Project – Dyer Island Conservation Trust

Summary – African penguin conservation includes a nest project providing critical protection to the penguins during their fledgling stage. South Africa’s endemic penguin species would normally burrow into their mass deposits of guano but sadly, this was stripped by man over many decades and used for agricultural fertilizer.

Studies include tagging and tracking, behavioural surveys, wound healing, environmental parameter monitoring, and daily observational data – fin identification for population studies helps assess this vulnerable species. Our senior shark biologist, Alison Towner, is part of the White Shark Research Group in South Africa. DICT are the only group tagging and tracking great white sharks in Gansbaai and have an array of acoustic receivers in the Bay.

Scientific Skills (On Request)

Focus  – Marine Biology and Ocean Conservation

Project – Dyer Island Conservation Trust

Summary – A series of exclusive, high-level academic and field-based skills training modules for marine science undergraduates and recent graduates. It’s open to all students in the natural science, and biology fields. Between ecological studies and the utilization of upcoming technologies, our emphasis is on providing students with experiences that will help further them along their chosen career paths. We are affiliated with various Universities worldwide.

Register here | Prep here