Penguins in peril as ship wrecked on Nightingale Island

0 CommentsPrint E-mail China.org.cn, March 25, 2011
Adjust font size:

A grounded cargo vessel has been wrecked on Nightingale Island - part of the Tristan da Cunha UK overseas territory in the South Atlantic - and threatens to create a twin environmental disaster for the island's wildlife, which includes nearly half of the world population of Northern rockhopper penguin; one of the world's most threatened species of penguin.

The stricken ship, which has now broken into two pieces. [wildlifeextra.com]

The stricken ship, which has now broken into two pieces. [wildlifeextra.com]

Rat threat to birdlife

The concerns of the Tristan Islanders, the Tristan Association and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds include the threat of oil pollution from the MS Oliva's fuel and partial cargo and also the risk of any rats on the vessel colonising the island, potentially placing the island's internationally-important seabird colonies in immense jeopardy. The fuel oil and cargo of 1500 tonnes of heavy crude oil is already leaking into the sea, poses a major hazard to the island's tens of thousands of pairs of penguin as well as the economically-important rock lobster fishery.

Oil slick

Oil now surrounds Nightingale Island and extends in to a slick 8 miles offshore from the wreck. Hundreds of oiled penguins have already been seen coming ashore.

Baited rodent traps The Tristan Conservation Department - which rapidly deployed nine people to the island - has already placed baited rodent traps on the shore in the vicinity of Spinner's Point, the headland on the north-west of the island where the bulk carrier has grounded.

Ship has already broken into 2 pieces A salvage tug is currently en-route from Cape Town with an experienced crew and environmental experts but she is not due to arrive at the island until Monday. The ship has already broken in two, but all of the 22-strong crew are safe. As the situation is no longer a salvage operation, the Tristan authorities understand that the vessel's operators and insurers are investigating chartering a second vessel to assist with cleaning up the pollution and oiled seabirds.

Potentially disastrous for the wildlife and fisheries - Penguins in trouble Richard Cuthbert is an RSPB research biologist who has visited Nightingale Island. He said: "How a modern and fully-laden cargo vessel can sail straight into an island beggars belief. The consequences of this wreck could be potentially disastrous for wildlife and the fishery-based economy of these remote islands. The Tristan da Cunha islands, especially Nightingale and adjacent Middle Island, hold million of nesting seabirds as well as four out of every ten of the world population of the globally endangered Northern rockhopper penguin. Over 200,000 penguins are currently on the islands and these birds will be heavily impacted by leaking oil.

Rat free island in danger

"If the vessels happens to be harbouring rats and they get ashore, then a twin environmental catastrophe could arise. Nightingale is one of two large islands in the Tristan da Cunha group that are rodent free. If rats gain a foothold their impact would be devastating. Fortunately, the Tristan da Cunha Conservation Department has already done a brilliant job in placing rodent traps in the vicinity of the wreck, with the hope these will intercept any rats getting ashore."

Disaster Trevor Glass is the Tristan Conservation Officer and has been working around the clock since the incident occurred early on Wednesday morning. Returning from an emergency assessment visit, he said: "The scene at Nightingale is dreadful as there is an oil slick encircling the island. The Tristan Conservation Team are doing all they can to clean up the penguins that are currently coming ashore. It is a disaster!"

Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comments

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter
主站蜘蛛池模板: 午夜亚洲乱码伦小说区69堂 | 任你躁国产自任一区二区三区| 课外辅导的秘密在线观看| 国产精品好好热在线观看| 99精品在线免费| 婷婷五月综合缴情在线视频| 中文字幕色婷婷在线视频| 日韩在线高清视频| 亚洲av无码欧洲av无码网站| 欧美黑人性暴力猛交喷水| 作者不详不要…用力呢| 精品国产一区二区三区免费| 四虎影视在线影院在线观看| 蜜桃臀av高潮无码| 国产在线一区观看| 另类视频区第一页| 国产精品亚洲精品日韩已满| 999任你躁在线精品免费不卡| 女大学生的沙龙| 三上悠亚中文字幕在线| 扒下老师的黑色丝袜桶她| 久久九九热视频| 日韩一品在线播放视频一品免费| 乱中年女人伦av一区二区| 欧美一区二区三区精品影视 | 中国一级特黄**毛片免| 无码不卡中文字幕av| 久久久精品2019免费观看| 日韩在线|中文| 久久精品国产亚洲Av麻豆蜜芽| 最近高清中文在线字幕在线观看 | 国产精品成人免费视频网站| 91抖音在线观看| 国模私拍福利一区二区| 99视频在线免费| 大尺度视频网站久久久久久久久| japanese国产在线观看| 天美传媒一区二区三区| xxxxwww免费| 娇小枯瘦日本xxxx| 一二三四在线播放免费视频中国|