The thick layer of bunker oil that washed ashore from the Seli 1 wreckage contaminated several African Penguins from the bird colony of Robben Island.
A search mission was initiated to assess the condition of these seabirds and protect them from the oil slick stemming from the stricken vessel.
The officials on the island has since captured 37 oiled penguins that have been affected as result of the oil slick that was offshore moving into the direction of Robben Island where these birds were fishing.
Two (2) chicks were also been found abandoned on the island as a result of their parents that were rescued. They have been removed from the island due to the fact that other birds prey on them.
The oiled birds will be treated at the Southern African Foundation for Conservation of Coastal Birds [SANCCOB] facility in Table View for approximately 3 weeks, whereafter they will be released on Robben Island.
The chicks will also be hand-reared for 3 months at the facility before been released.
The City regards the situation as a major concern for the protected species as history has shown that when penguins are oiled many of them does not make it to the shore.
The continuous oil pollution is a major danger to seabirds, in particular the endangered African penguin, and including other birds, mammals and fish species that live on the bird colony and marine environment.
The City is making renewed appeals to the Department of Transport to seek a permanent solution and urgently remove the wreck from the coastline.
The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre is working in close collaboration with the Department of Environmental Affairs and other maritime authorities in managing the situation.
SANCCOB has been placed on high-alert for any incidents of oiled seabirds between the Table View and Robben Island area.
Members of the public that observe any polluted seabirds are encouraged to contact the City’s Disaster Operations Centre on Tel: 080 911 HELP (4357) or to report such incidents to SANCCOB on Tel: 021 557 6155.
End
Issued by: Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town
Source: Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects and Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre
No comments:
Post a Comment