SANCCOB and the Spirit Foundation nurture a lifeline for seabirds

The team at SANCCOB (the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) are up in the early hours of the day, while most of Cape Town is still thawing from the night’s rest, busy with getting their daily conservation work underway. Chicks must be fed, enclosures cleaned, and temperature-controlled pools checked. For these marine conservationists, every penguin, every gannet, and every tern represents more than a rescue—they are symbols of a fragile ecosystem fighting to survive.

It is this commitment that drew the Spirit Foundation Wildlife Programme (SFWP) into partnership with SANCCOB. Since joining forces in 2024, the Spirit Foundation has become a critical ally in SANCCOB’s mission, helping to bring vital infrastructure projects to life, most recently the Warm Water Recovery Pool. This first-of-its-kind facility will provide an optimal healing environment for rehabilitating seabirds.

“Marine birds are among our most vulnerable wildlife,” says Wendy De Sousa, Marketing Director of the Spirit Foundation and head of SFWP. “Oil spills, overfishing, and climate change, they are facing threats from every direction. Our support for SANCCOB is about protecting those on the frontlines of the fight and giving these birds a fighting chance.”

A project reignited

After months of delay, SANCCOB’s Warm Water Pool project is finally back on track. The successful completion and occupation of SANCCOB’s new Seabird Nursery in May marked a significant milestone, enabling the safe dismantling of the old facility and clearing the site for the construction of the pool.

Now that the space is cleared, construction planning has resumed in earnest. Procurement is underway, with site visits from potential contractors scheduled, and sustainability considerations at the forefront. Where possible, piping and electrical systems from the old nursery will be reused, reducing costs and environmental impact.

“This is not just a pool—it’s a recovery sanctuary,” says De Sousa. “The Spirit Foundation doesn’t simply fund projects. We walk alongside our partners to ensure every detail is right—from design to impact.”

Timing, terrain, and thoroughness

As construction edges closer, weather remains a key variable. With the Cape winter in full swing, persistent rains have necessitated that SANCCOB build flexibility into its timeline. Ground levelling and concrete laying, foundational steps, can only proceed in dry conditions to preserve structural integrity.

Despite this, the outlook remains positive. By late July, the construction area should be fully prepared, and the installation of the heated pool is on track to begin in August. It will include a heat pump and a filtration system, crucial for seabirds recovering from trauma, infection, or exposure.

This initiative is part of a broader, more focused commitment by the Spirit Foundation to marine conservation. Known for its terrestrial impact, from rhino rehabilitation to leopard rewilding, the Spirit Foundation has extended its reach to our coastal margins, recognising the interconnectedness of land, sea, and survival.

“We see every one of our partnerships as part of a greater ecosystem,” De Sousa explains. “The SANCCOB team are experts, carers, and custodians of something precious. Our role is to strengthen their hands.”

In the face of rising environmental threats, projects like this warm water recovery pool become not just relevant, but essential. They represent a lifeline—not just for the seabirds, but for the future of marine biodiversity along South Africa’s coast.

Join the mission

The Spirit Foundation invites individuals, philanthropists, and businesses to support its growing network of wildlife partnerships, including SANCCOB. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, there are many ways to contribute.

As De Sousa puts it: “Every bird that returns to the ocean, every chick that gets a second chance, is a testament to what we can achieve when we act with purpose.”