Although the incident is an anomaly, experts at the foundation fear that a lack of sufficient food could have long-term consequences for the Cape Cormorant in the future.
The west coast of southern Africa is home to the Benguela Current, a piece of cold, nutrient-rich water that generally allows small fish to flourish. But the rise in ocean temperature due to the climate crisis could hurt that productivity.
Last month, ocean temperatures around Robben Island reached 3.6 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While it can only be driven by natural variability, it is also a worrying sign of what can happen as the world continues to heat up, upsetting the balance of ecosystems.
The Foundation’s response manager, Nicky Stander, said AFP that if the amount of food continues to decrease, dropouts are likely to become more common. Cormorants can even stop breeding, she said.
“We have seen emaciated birds coming to the center for years,” Stander told AFP. “What we are afraid of is that this will happen more and more in the future.”