Unusual Predatory Behaviour by Mole Snake on African Penguin at Robben Island

Authors

  • Makhudu Josiah Masotla Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Cape Town, South Africa
  • Bruce Dyer Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Cape Town, South Africa
  • Thando Cebekhulu Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Cape Town, South Africa
  • Leshia Visagie Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Cape Town, South Africa
  • Avumile Bawuli Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Cape Town, South Africa; FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
  • Azwianewi Makhado Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Cape Town, South Africa; FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15641/bo.1866

Abstract

Robben Island, Table Bay, South Africa, is an Important Bird Area, and many of the seabird species breeding on Robben Island are of conservation concern. In particular, the African Penguin Spheniscus demersus is Critically Endangered. The island hosts 18 species of reptiles. During the 2024 annual African Penguin census, a Mole Snake Pseudaspis cana was observed attempting to constrict and presumably overpower an adult African Penguin. This is a phenomenon which has not previously been observed. This incident serves as a reminder of the many challenges face by the African Penguin.

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Published

2025-10-10

How to Cite

Masotla, M. J., Dyer, B., Cebekhulu, T., Visagie, L., Bawuli, A., & Makhado, A. (2025). Unusual Predatory Behaviour by Mole Snake on African Penguin at Robben Island. Biodiversity Observations, 15(1), 112–117. https://doi.org/10.15641/bo.1866

Issue

Vol. 15 (2025)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Makhudu Josiah Masotla, Bruce Dyer, Thando Cebekhulu, Leshia Visagie, avumile Bawuli, Azwianewi Makhado

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.