For the African Penguin, this seems to be a rare event. All evidence points to most penguins coming to shore alive. It appears that they usually head for the nearest breeding colony, but many oiled birds also come ashore on the mainland. They usually do not return to sea, but remain on the shore, surviving on their fat and other reserves, until they eventually die. This behavioural trait of staying put works in the African Penguin's favour essentially, they await rescue.
Oiled seabirds die before being captured.
Most of the penguin breeding islands are staffed, and there are few sections of shoreline in the Western Cape which are so isolated that no one visits them regularly. We believe that few oiled African Penguins die during this period. Oiled seabirds die during transport to the rescue centre or during the initial period of stabilization at the rescue centre. Significant advances in the design and management of the boxes used for transporting penguins have been implemented. Stabilization procedures have also been transformed beyond recognition.