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IFAW sends international response team to rescue some of the world's rarest wildlife from oil spill International
Fund for Animal Welfare (Santa Fe Island, Galapagos-25 January 2001) The oil slick from the sunken
ore carrier Jessica is continuing to threaten wildlife on more of the
Galapagos Islands as it spreads north, announced the International Fund
for Animal Welfare.
The international team of wildlife oil spill experts is now working with
local scientists and groups to put in place contingency plans in case
penguins and other sea birds, as well as marine mammals, need to be moved
away from islands that are at risk.
The oiled wildlife team of the International Fund for Animal Welfare,
includes members of the International Bird Rescue and Rehabilitation
Center, and is working with the Galapagos-based Charles Darwin Research
Institute, the organization leading the operation.
The Jessica's partially sunken hull is still leaking its cargo of 240,00
gallons of diesel and bunker fuel. A rehabilitation center is planned to
be situated on centrally located Santa Cruz Island while a stabilization
center will be located on San Cristobal, where the tanker still lies.
The Institute has been monitoring the oil slick from the air since the
crisis began last week and has predicted a northern path by using
sophisticated GPS satellite tracking equipment.
"The slick badly affected Santa Fe Island after a few days and is now
damaging beaches and wildlife on Santa Cruz. The predicted route will take
it to Santiago Island where there are penguin colonies," said Jay
Holcombe, who is leading the IFAW team.
"There is an incredible array of wildlife here ranging from sea birds to
marine mammals, such as sea lions and reptiles like the iguana. A large
priority for us includes rare species such as lava gulls, of which only
400 pairs are left on these islands."
The IFAW team will utilize the rehabilitation and stabilization facilities
to treat oiled wildlife and possibly evacuate others before the slick
reaches them. Oiled wildlife will first go to the stabilization center to
improve their health and will then come to the rehabilitation center on
Santa Cruz for cleaning and longer term care prior to release.
The Darwin Institute´s list of oiled wildlife at present includes: 65
pelicans, 30 sea lions, six sea turtles, five blue foot booby birds, two
iguanas, a lava gull and various other birds and wildlife.
IFAW is on the scene at the request of the Charles Darwin Research
Institute and the International Bird Rescue and Research Center, helping
to save Galapagos wildlife.
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