Although the incident is an anomaly, experts at the foundation are concerned that the lack of sufficient food could affect the Cape cormorant in the future.
The west coast of southern Africa is home to the Benguela Current, a stretch of cool, nutrient-rich water that generally allows small fish to thrive. But rising ocean temperatures due to the climate crisis can stunt that productivity.
According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for the past month, ocean temperatures around Robben Island are up to 3.6 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than normal. While it may only be caused by natural variability, it is also a worrying sign of what could come next if the world continues to warm and disrupt the balance of ecosystems.
The Foundation’s response manager, Nicky Stander, told me AFP that if the amount of food continues to decrease, abandonment is likely to occur more often. In fact, cormorants could stop breeding altogether, she said.
“We’ve seen emaciated birds entering the center for years,” Stander told AFP. “What we fear is that this will happen more and more in the future.”