nightingale island oil spill


This temporary rehabilitation center was constructed after supplies and staff from SANCCOB (Cape Town’s seabird rescue center) arrived on the tug, Svitzer Singapore, on April 5th.

I got word this morning that the ship from Cape Town has arrived at Tristan – frozen fish, rescue kits, supplies and much needed help – 6 members (I believe) from SANCCOB.

Half of the world’s population of Rockhoppers, which is what the local population amounts to, could be wiped out because of the spill. Some fur seals were similarly afflicted but the penguins had the worst of it. Nightingale Island is one of only two rodent free islands in the area, and if rats take hold, it will devastate the bird life even more with chicks and eggs being eaten.

The hold-up was apparently on the governmental level in the UK (this island group is a British territory). To make matters worse, this very remote location is accessible only by boat in very rough seas. Once the Svitzer Singapore arrived from Cape Town with frozen fish and cleaning supplies (including detergent, wash-tubs, degreaser, toothbrushes, hot water heaters and infrared heat lamps), the training of volunteers and cleaning of the oiled penguins could finally begin. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED GENEROSITY.

How will this oil spill impact the future survival of this endangered species? Since 2015, Team leader Dr. Barbara Wienecki interacts with an Emperor Penguin in the Snow Hill Colony.

Eventually, this long-term exposure to the toxic oil can kill them. The Foundation for Antarctic Research is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.


The latest reports indicate that the recovery of any more oiled penguins from the islands in the Tristan da Cunha island group has probably concluded. We still do not have answers as to why the official response from the UK was so slow and insufficient. National Geographic photographer Andrew Evans just so happened to be on the island at the time of the disaster, and was able to capture the tragic images of the devastation as a result.

The Foundation is raising funds for 10-15 Daily Diary tags to be placed on Rockhoppers and Yellow Nosed Albatrosses to follow those that have survived the oil spill.

Today is National Voter Registration Day! Had professional rescue teams (bringing necessary supplies) been allowed to go to Tristan as soon as this oil spill occurred, the lives of many more penguins would undoubtedly have been saved. Spoke to Richard Cuthbert at the RSPB/UK this a.m. – it may not be known for up to a year whether or not rats have come onto Tristan from the ship – this would be catastrophic for birdlife. The 3 km² outcrop is located halfway between Africa and South America, so is a long way from land, 1,700 miles distant. But, unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond the control of the islanders and the conservation officers stationed there (and the penguin experts coming from Cape Town), the necessary supplies did not arrive until three weeks after the oil spill occurred. However, these birds had been coated in toxic oil for so long that they were in a very compromised state. Normally, it is a place of serenity, perfect for getting away from the ills of the world and cares of the mind. But we do know the following from previous experience; an oiled animal will compulsively preen or groom itself (a penguin uses its beak to do this) so they ingest the toxic oil covering their bodies. Nightingale was possibly sighted along with Tristan da Cunha in 1506 by Tristão da Cunha, though he made no record of it.

Read more... © The Foundation for Antarctic Research All Rights Reserved. To fully understand the long-term impact the MS Oliva oil spill will have on this pristine region, and on the endangered Northern Rockhopper penguins, will require long-term monitoring. More than 20,000 penguins have been covered in oil, putting their lives and the survival of the entire species in jeopardy. Operators of the Oliva have said that the ship was rodent free, but the islanders are taking no chances.

Dr. Graham Robertson and his team are saving lives with their underwater bait setting device. The … Speaking to the Canadian Press, British Administrator Sean Burns said he had temporarily closed the area around Nightingale and nearby Inaccessible Island to fishing.

How will this oil spill impact the islanders as well? Hopefully this lovely and once pristine area of the world can be returned to its former state. Photo by Katrine Herian, RSPB. “A Race Against Time to Save Oiled Penguins” by NY Times. “The lobster fishery is what Tristan depends on. At this point, the exact cause of these deaths has not been released. Our funds at F.A.R. Rescuers are catching some local species, but obviously there is an oil concern for those as well. Scribol has built a large and loyal audience that now numbers 20MM visitors per month, making it

All rights reserved. He uploaded photos and the following video to a blog, where he said, "It was a painful and disturbing scene. Most of the birds haven’t eaten for weeks while they transitioned from old feathers to new, because they can’t swim in the frigid South Sea without a thick layer of feathers to insulate them and provide their natural buoyancy. At this point, the local lobster fishery has been shut down due to oil contamination. On March 16, 2011, a carrier vessel from Greece called the MS Olivia ran aground near the coast of Nightingale Island (part of the Tristan da Cuhna island chain–see map below for details). The crew was rescued from the boat before it broke in half and sank to the ocean floor, releasing an estimated 800 tons of crude oil into the ocean.

The island is home to millions of Thank you so much for your support.

Foundation for Antarctic Research Director, Posted in Events, Nightingale Island Oil Spill | Comments Off. An environmentalist estimated that more than 20,000 birds might be affected. If, as some fear, half of the world’s population of Northern Rockhopper penguins perish, serious conservation work will need to be done to reestablish the colony. Over 98% of those brought to Tristan for cleaning have perished.
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Now this entire species of penguins–listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)–is facing possible extinction if the world is not able to come together and provide the resources they need. Help us save Tristan oil spill penquins with Daily Diaries, Wash and dry for rockhoppers at rehab center, Seabird Rehabilitation on Tristan da Cunha main island, Bush Warriors: Nightingale Island Oil Spill, “Nightingale Oil Spill Coats Endangered Rockhopper Penguins” from Huffington Post, “A Race Against Time to Save Oiled Penguins” by NY Times, Website design and hosting by Old City Web Services.

©2020 Verizon Media. On March 16, 2011, a carrier vessel from Greece called the MS Olivia ran aground near the coast of Nightingale Island (part of the Tristan da Cuhna island chain–see map below for details).

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