Although the incident is in a deviation, experts from the foundation are concerned that the lack of sufficient food could have long-term consequences for the Cape eel in the future.
The west coast of southern Africa is home to the Benguela River, a stretch of cool, nutritious water that generally causes small fish to bloom. But rising ocean temperatures due to the climate crisis could hamper that productivity.
Over the past month, ocean temperatures around Robben Island have seen up to 3.6 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Although it can only be driven by natural variables, it is also a sign of what could come if the world continues to warm up, disrupting the balance of ecosystems.
The manager of the founding reaction, Nicky Stander, tells AFP that as the amount of food continues to decline, abandonment is likely to become more common. Eelscholvers can even stop breeding, she says.
“We have been seeing emaciated birds coming to the center for years,” Stander told AFP. “What we are afraid of is that it will happen more and more in the future.”