Dyer Island Cruises works very closely with CapeNature, particularly with regard to Dyer Island; Dr Peter Best of the South African Museum and South Africa's foremost scientist in the field of cetaceans; and the scientists at Marine and Coastal Management regarding seabirds and marine mammals.
Transport of scientists from the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute (ornithology) and Marine and Coastal Management to Dyer Island for research is partly sponsored by Dyer Island Cruises.
Dyer Island Cruises donates transport of oiled penguins and injured birds from Dyer Island and transports them, or arranges for them to be transported, to SANCCOB (our national body for the rehabilitation of seabirds) in Cape Town. During the recent disaster resulting from an oil spill by the Treasure, Dyer Island Cruises was instrumental in obtaining a donation from Gansbaai of 60 tons of fish for the oiled penguins. Dyer Island Cruises collects and cares for injured birds and seals found along the coast and transfers them to Cape Town. Part of the boat trip fee goes directly to Western Cape Nature Conservation Board.
We collect all injured and oiled seabirds along the coast near Gansbaai. We also help injured seals when necessary. Our team assists researchers to measure and photograph dead cetaceans that occasionally wash up on the beaches.
Dyer Island Cruises is currently assisting CapeNature with a penguin nest project on Dyer Island. African penguins used to burrow into the soft guano (bird manure) on the island to nest. The guano was removed in the mid 1800’s and early 1900’s and used as fertilizer. The penguins are now struggling to find shelter from predators like kelp gulls for their eggs and chicks. In January 2005 Dyer Island Cruises constructed 30 artificial nests and transported them to the island aboard Whale Whisperer. Within a few days several of the nests had already been occupied. They are being monitored by CapeNature employees on the island.
