26/08/2009 RSPCA sends help to ease birds suffering

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A recent oil spill in the sea of southern Norway has put the lives of 1,500 birds in danger. A total spill of a thousand tons of oil entered the water after a carrier ship ran aground in the locality of several important nature reserves. The disaster meant that a network of wildlife organisations was formed to try to limit the damage caused to the thirty four species of birds affected.

Birds such as Eiders, Herring Gulls, Mute Swans and Cormorants have been affected with Eiders making up around 90 per cent of the injured, distressed birds. The wildlife centre at the disaster site have requested that three staff from the RSPCA with expertise in the caring for oil stricken birds assist in the process of rehabilitation. The RSPCA is a member of the European network of wildlife organisations that work together in these circumstances and provide support for those working in wildlife centres around Europe. Staff look after the birds by washing them and monitoring their progress in rehabilitation pools, once the birds have recovered they are released back into the wild.

Coralie Farren, an RSPCA international aid officer, based a the centre in Norway said “It’s terrible to see so many birds affected by this spill; but thanks to the hard work of everyone involved, most of the birds that are brought in to the centre will have a good chance of survival”.

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