NSW: Rescue underway to save rare pengiuns covered in oil

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-1999
NSW: Rescue underway to save rare pengiuns covered in oil

SYDNEY, Aug 5 AAP - A rescue effort is underway to save an endangered colony of fairy
penguins, some of which were found covered in oil after yesterday's Sydney Harbour spill.

Eight of the tiny penguins were found struggling to their burrows on the harbour foreshore
at a secret location in Sydney's north last night, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS)
officers said.

An NPWS spokesman said the penguins would be taken to Taronga Zoo for urgent treatment.

The oil spill is a massive blow to wildlife authorities who have been undertaking a
recovery plan to save the rare penguins.

Fewer than 50 of the birds remain in the colony, the exact site of which is kept secret to
protect the penguins.

The spokesman said the colony would be monitored over the next few days.

"We'll continue our monitoring operations to ensure other birds have not been affected by
the oil," he said.

About five other birds were seen covered in oil but could not be caught.

The spokesman said rangers patrolling the waterway at dawn did not find any other injured
wildlife but warned the full effects of the spill on fauna would not be known for several
days.

"It is early days yet and it will be a few days before we can determine how many (animals)
will be affected," he said.

A cormorant found covered in oil was yesterday treated at Taronga Zoo and should be
released in the next two weeks.

A zoo spokeswoman said wildlife brought to the zoo for treatment would not be released
until the harbour was officially free of oil.

"We won't be releasing any animals while the oil is still about," she said.

AAP ls/tsm/br

KEYWORD: TANKER PENGUINS

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