Oil Spills, Saving Animals, Protecting the Seas

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Oil Spills, Saving Animals, Protecting the Seas

By greenexpander ⋅ January 10, 2008 ⋅

Only one oil spill can cause enormous devastation on wildlife and habitats, but seas all over the world take in millions of gallons of oil every year. The long-term effect of such a disaster is the subject of much debate among scientists. Some argue that animals and birds are harmed many years after the event, while other people believe wildlife is more resilient. For example, according to research, otters and other animals are still suffering nearly 12 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, which is considered one of the worst in terms of damage to the environment.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, this article comes with illustrations from a recent oil spill in the Yellow Sea. Oil affects wildlife by coating their bodies with a thick layer, more and more over time and adheres to their skin or fur even more. Floating over the water surface, birds and marine mammals are caught, some fish even being attracted by the spill because it looks like food.

Every year at least half a million water birds die from encounters with spilt oil, according to Jay Holcomb, executive director of the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Fairfield, California. For a bird to survive such a spill, rescuers must arrive quickly, with water and food. The animals are placed in plastic tubs, being washed with warm water and mild soap. For the eyes and ears, a water pick or toothbrush is used to avoid damaging sensitive organs.

The birds are literally shampooed. After this they are left to bathe to put their feathers in order. They secrete and rub on their feathers natural oil that acts as a conditioner. When the birds regain a natural weight and blood values, they are released back into the wild. Human efforts are considerable, preventing the death of tens of animals. For example, in June 2000, when 1,300 tons of oil was spilled in the Atlantic Ocean, 90 percent of the rescued birds survived. Today the African penguin population is 19% more numerous due to the human efforts, according to University of Cape Town researchers who monitor the birds.

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Tags: animals, birds, disaster, environment, Oil spills, sealife

Discussion

36 comments for “Oil Spills, Saving Animals, Protecting the Seas”

Thanks for this article. I thought I’d add the information I have about the S. Korea oil spill.

I went to the S. Korea spill to help clean up. A colleague of mine working on the spill tells me that neither of the companies responsible for the spill have taken financial responsibility for it. Also, although there has been a huge public outcry of volunteerism, much of it has been concentrated on restoring the beauty of the beaches. There has been slim clean-up attention on the danger to the bird sanctuaries and estuaries being hit by the spill, which are home to migrating winter birds.

I have a couple of articles on this with first-hand accounts from my days volunteering if you’re interested.

http://ecoworldly.com/2007/12/19/the-dark-side-of-crude-firsthand-accounts-of-koreas-oil-spill-cleanup/

http://ecoworldly.com/2007/12/12/massive-oil-spill-threatens-wetlands-national-park-in-south-korea/

Kind regards,

Gavin Hudson

Gavin Hudson’s last blog post..Neapolitan to Take Away

Posted by Gavin Hudson | January 13, 2008, 12:07 pm
I really enjoy reading your blog, it always has great insight. But I am very frustrated with the fact that so few people are talking about presidential candidates and their thoughts on global warming. Now that it is down to just a few candidates I would think that this would be a bigger issue.

Live Earth just picked up this topic and put out an article ( http://www.liveearth.org/news.php ) live earth is also asking why the presidential candidates are not being solicited for their stance on the issue of the climate change. I just saw a poll on http://www.EarthLab.com that says people care a lot about what their next leader thinks of global warming. Does anyone know of another poll or other results about this subject?

Here is the page where I saw the EarthLab poll: http://www.earthlab.com/life.aspx. This is a pretty legit website; they are endorsed by Al Gore and the alliance for climate protection and they have a carbon footprint calculator. Does anyone have a strong opinion about this like I do? No matter what your political affiliation is or who you vote for this is an important issue for our environment, our economy and for homeland security.

Posted by alex | February 7, 2008, 7:40 pm
omfg i didnt know that untill now that is just so sad i want to help out tooo kk peaple.!!!

Posted by i love animals 101 | October 28, 2008, 4:55 pm
I am a director and producer working on a documentary of a company that has the solution for these spills. They can actually quickly collect and separate the oil and water completely and return clean water back into the environment while sending oil into bladders for full recovery. Would be happy to provde the DVD to Green Exapander when ready. That companies technologies can be seen at http://www.globalresponsegroup.com (old site, new one coming soon as well).

Posted by Ron | November 6, 2008, 11:55 am
hi

lkjh’s last blog post..By: Ron

Posted by lkjh | December 7, 2008, 9:09 pm
HORRIBLE.

Posted by coreena | December 12, 2008, 11:59 am
i like oil

Posted by jake | December 17, 2008, 8:24 pm
i hate ducks

Posted by jake | December 17, 2008, 8:25 pm
I’m doing my science project on oil spills and this site really helped me!

Posted by Christine | December 21, 2008, 9:55 pm
wow… im doing an “Edison” school group project and this just blew me away. Theres over 100 oil spills over the world since 1960.
Thank you for this awesome website and more.

Posted by brian | January 5, 2009, 9:43 pm
wow…i thank you for making this website. its sad that people are polluting the sea.

Posted by Arianna Reiley | February 10, 2009, 10:47 am
This is really wonderful. I have to do a humanity project for English telling whether humanity is good or bad, but this sure shows our good side! Nice work!

Posted by HILLARIE VERNON | February 10, 2009, 2:14 pm
ayye bitches! well i’m hottt(: and i loooveeee kyle perrin. this artical thing made me cry, its sad. poor ducks.

Posted by Alissa Mannn! (: | February 10, 2009, 2:18 pm
ADD ME ON MYSPACEEEEE

Posted by Alissa Mannn! (: | February 10, 2009, 2:19 pm
hello. this artical is sad. and alissa’s a hoeeee. add me on myspace, thankss<33333

Posted by chelsea | February 10, 2009, 2:20 pm
suup babyyyy:) i loveeeee alex merzzzzz !

Posted by baileyy allllen | February 10, 2009, 2:22 pm
when did this get cleaned up?

what did you clean the birds with?

Posted by tommy gould | February 20, 2009, 11:53 am
i luv ducks poor ducks curse the tankrs who did diz dister

Posted by tiggerbabe | March 1, 2009, 8:47 pm
wow this hepled me alot for my science project we had to look up on the internet and find an artical that has to do with and oil spill and if i get amazing then you guys are the best thanks the really helped me and i want to save the birds so people reading this stop littering pick up ur trash or someone elses and throw it in the garbage because littering is not cool neither is and oil spill think green dont be mean then sill not and oil spill

amanda’s last blog post..Silent Carbon Footprint: Top Ten Sources You’d Never Expect

Posted by amanda | March 5, 2009, 6:33 pm
Wow, I can’t believe the impact that oil really has on wildlife. I recall doing a presentation on the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and I can’t believe that there are even animals today that are still impacted by the spill!!!

Posted by g | March 22, 2009, 12:07 pm
hello i’am from Tbilisi(Georgia)

First of all excuse me for my bad english

I want to create organization for saving wild animals in situatins which are above on photo’s i have investors who will give money to start buying some staff oil spill cleanup technology, i would like to know more about saving animals, what to use to clean them and save from poisoning

Posted by sandro | April 13, 2009, 10:06 am
i care about the enviroment a lot and feel vvvvvvery bad about oil spills, i think there should be a bigger organization for that so animals can live a full and happy life, people should plant more and reuse more and people should NOT SMOKE! it will help us live in peace and happiness so don’t throw things away if they can be recycled.

Posted by Apple | April 17, 2009, 8:56 am
this is bad poor animals and stupid people should check there boats

Posted by Joana T.. | April 23, 2009, 1:27 pm
wow! i can’t believe how much one oil spill can do. i feel so bad for those poor animals. hopefully we can discover a solution soon

Posted by Julia | May 14, 2009, 2:39 pm
This website did help, but official animal death statistics would be great.
I dont think a solution will happen anytime soon. Too many different causes: tanker spills, purpose discard, oil bank breaks etc.

Posted by Georgia | May 27, 2009, 5:15 am
THIS IS DISGUSTING!!!! HOW COULD PEOPLE DO THIS TO INNOCENT ANIMALS!!!

Posted by Heather AND Rachel | July 28, 2009, 8:57 pm
I REALLY WANT TO HELP THE POOR ANIMALS ….. I WOULD/WILL HELP BY WASHING OIL OFF ……OIL is fueled by greed ….i don’t see oil companys helping

Posted by mikey lee | August 11, 2009, 10:33 pm
even know im 9 years old i would relly like to save animals lifes. i would do anything to save an animals life.i relly care about living things. most kids say no i wont help the invirement. but i would like to help animals.

Posted by kiley | August 27, 2009, 6:33 pm
YOU KNOW, ONE DAY ALL THE COLD HEARTED PEOPLE THAT HURT, ABUSE, AND KILL ANIMALS…WILL ONE DAY PAY. AND THEY BETTER PRAY ITS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS LIFETIME… BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO MERCY IN THE NEXT!

Posted by AnaVic | August 28, 2009, 9:04 pm
i hate to see animals die
i hate to see animal get abused
it kills me inside
if i ever saw anyone abusing an amimal
i would probably kill them
literally!

Posted by Paul | August 30, 2009, 6:10 pm
This stuff all makes my stomach hurt…

Thumbs up to volunteers! You are great people! I wish I could find a way to help more.

Posted by Kelsey | September 3, 2009, 5:26 pm
i want to help with the environment thats what im gonna go to college for right now im a freshmen in high school and if anyone can help point me in the right direction i would appreciate it. i love animals they were here first so thats why i want to help.

Posted by alexis deceglia | September 28, 2009, 6:30 pm
I wish I could do more to help them….the animals I mean. Just because I’m a kid doesn’t mean I can’t help in some way. Maybe I can raise money….

Posted by animalLVR | October 11, 2009, 3:16 pm
I dont want to read a bunch of articules!! I want to go and actually wash some oily animals!! How can i go about getting involved in that??

Posted by Charity | October 11, 2009, 5:36 pm
i like animals this makes me sad:( (U)

Posted by Sam | October 27, 2009, 9:19 am
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Posted by Sam | October 27, 2009, 9:20 am

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