A rehabilitated Cape Gannet released at sea in cooperation with CROW (Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife)

Etienne van Zyl, NSRI Durban station commander, said: Just after 06h30, Monday, 22 June, our NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 was launched, accompanied by a CROW (Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife) team, 3 International volunteers and a Cape Gannet sea bird that had been rehabilitated for release at sea.

The Cape Gannet had reportedly, according to CROW, been found on the beach at Salt Rock, KZN, and came to CROW towards the end of May, weak, tired and appearing to be undernourished.

A vet conducted X-Rays to determine if there were any wing breaks or perhaps a fish hook or obstacle in the Cape Gannet's throat, all examinations came back clear, CROW Primate Officer, Elizna, told NSRI.

According to CROW the Cape Gannet was fed sardines twice a day and provided a pond to swim and to get waterproofed while being cared for by CROW staff and volunteers.

Following the successful rehabilitation and ready to be released CROW approached NSRI Durban for assistance to release the bird at sea.

In a successful operation the rehabilitated and healthy Cape Gannet was released from our rescue craft at sea half a nautical mile offshore of Durban and was monitored for a while wading and exercising its wings before we returned to our NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base.