When the carrier MS Oliva ran aground last Wednesday morning on Nightingale Island – a tiny, 1.5 square-mile speck in the middle of the Southern Atlantic Ocean – thousands of seabirds on this isolated (and nearly untouched by man) island were suddenly put in dire peril. Approximately 200,000 endangered Northern Rockhopper penguins live on the few small islands that are part of the Tristan da Cunha island group. Local conservation officials have estimated that at least 20,000 penguins will be oiled from the fuel oil that spilled from the ship as it broke apart and sank. Other seabird species inhabiting these islands have also been observed with oil on their bodies. I almost hate to say it out loud, but the outlook is grim.
MS Oliva broken apart at Nightingale Island. Photo by Tristan Conservation Team
Trevor Glass, one of the Tristan Conservation Officers, has been working around the clock since the ship grounded on March 16th. After conducting an emergency survey of the area several days ago he was quoted as saying, “The scene at Nightingale is dreadful, as there is an oil slick encircling the island. The Tristan Conservation Team are doing all they can to clean up the penguins that are currently coming ashore. It is a disaster!”
Three oiled Rockhoppers at Tristan. Photo by Trevor Glass
The task they face is truly daunting – there are only 100 islanders available to help with the rescue efforts. And while SANCCOB and IBRRC have teams on stand-by, getting supplies and wildlife rescue teams there from other countries is proving to be a tremendous challenge. Not only are distance and accessibility major factors (the only way to get there is a 4-7 day journey by sea), there are political hoops to jump through to get foreigners out these islands. (For more on that, see this article in Tuesday’s Cape Argus newspaper: Rescuers on standby after island disaster.) But the following blog post from Jay Holcomb, Director Emeritus for IBRRC, seems to indicate that a team from SANCCOB might be on its way there now. It was written the day prior to the Cape Argus article, so it’s not entirely clear where they stand at the moment. “Catastrophic South Atlantic Oil Spill Threatens Endangered Rockhopper Penguins.”
- Large group of oiled Rockhopper penguins at Tristan. Photo by Tristan Conservation Team
Many concerned people have been sending me messages this week, asking how they can help the stricken penguins on the Tristan da Cunha islands. To everyone wanting to help, I have some good news! The Ocean Foundation has just set up a fund to help save the penguins and other oiled seabirds affected by this oil spill. While it should be noted that the ship’s insurers will be required to pay for all costs associated with the animal rescue efforts and the removal of oil from the environment, it may be some time before these fines are paid, and the handful of rescue workers currently out on the islands trying to save the birds are in desperate need of funding to carry them over until then. PLEASE donate as generously as you possibly can – the penguins desperately need you!
To make a donation to help save the oiled seabirds at Tristan da Cunha, visit The Ocean Foundation‘s website. Your donation to the Nightingale Island Disaster Penguin and Seabird Rescue Fund is tax-deductible, and will go directly to help the teams working to save the oiled seabirds at Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha and Inaccessible Island. There is also a link to this donation form on the Ocean Doctor’s website (Dr. David Guggenheim).
Please help spread the word about this rescue fund. Thank you for your help!
Hopefully this video will be helpful for you fundraising efforts.
Dear Brian,
Thank you so much for sending this video. Where did you find it, and who is the narrator? (I did a YouTube search, but it didn’t come up.) These images of heavily oiled penguins are absolutely devastating. I will be sure to share this video frequently here, and on FB and Twitter as well.
All best,
Dyan
Dear Brian,
Having worked on several oil spills over the years some large some small this spill looks as if it will be a major one on the N Rockhoppers themselves and their future. Just hope that there is enough voulenteers/workers to carry this load of helping them survive. Next will come the cleaning of these inaccessible but beautiful islands.
Thank you for the video it really is an eye opener for people who have never been involved in rehab in any way.
Dear J,
Thank you so much for all the work you have done on previous oil spills. As far as there being enough volunteers to care for the oiled animals at Tristan, I hate to say that this – but with an estimated 10,000-20,000 Rockhopper penguins already oiled, there will not be enough people there to manage this monstrous task. During the Treasure oil spill rescue in Cape Town, we had some 12, 500 volunteers to help us care for the 19,000 oiled penguins. And we were in a major city, so resources were plentiful. Tragically, it’s just not possible to get thousands of people out to these terribly remote islands to help, so the small rescue team will have to do the best they can with the resources at hand – and whatever can be brought from the mainland. There are 100 islanders and a few conservation workers caring for the 1,000 oiled penguins that have been rescued so far. A team of five penguin rehabbers are on their way now from Cape Town with some supplies, but they aren’t expected to arrive until Saturday – a full two and half weeks after the oil spill. As you well know, an expeditious response is critical in saving these animals. Sadly, the outlook for these penguins is rather grim.
All best,
Dyan