Fears for hundreds of birds on south coast as ‘palm oil fell off passing ship’ reacted with sea water create ‘super-glue’
Worldwide, Daily news | ankakh | February 1, 2013 19:05
Scores of seabirds have washed up on the south coast covered in a mysterious waxy substance.
Although many of the birds were still alive, attempts to clean them were hampered as rescuers struggled to identify what was coating their feathers.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said more than 100 distressed birds, mostly guillemots, were discovered atLymeBayin Dorset, with reports of others turning up as far away asCornwallandSussex.
There are fears that hundreds more could be affected in the next few days.
After extensive tests, it was discovered that the offending white substance was palm oil, which was thought to have fallen or been discharged from a passing ship.
Rescue teams hope the birds can cleaned up before they are released back into the wild, but the oil has caused lesions on the skin of some animals, with two so badly injured they had to be put down.
Dog walkers in the affected area have also been warned to be careful, with reports of the sticky oil washing up on the beach.
Grahame Madge, of the RSPB, said the spill could be a ‘disaster’ for the seabirds in the bay.
He said: ‘This is a pollution incident that has happened in a very important area for sea birds. We have to wait and see how big a disaster is unfolding.
‘There are 25,000 guillemots inLymeBayat the moment and we are fearful that this could well spread in the next couple of days with greater numbers of birds washing ashore. No doubt there will be more affected birds on the beach in the morning.’
About 15 seabirds affected by the oil have been found washed up dead.
Mark Smith, of the Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: ‘Most of the birds are guillemots which spend most of their lives in the sea.
‘They have swum through this substance which is almost like a glue and it has stuck their feathers together, meaning they can’t fly or swim.
‘The good news is that the birds that have been cleaned are responding to the treatment.
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