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[b][size=150]Treasure Oil Spill Yzerfontein[/size][/b]

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Below is the diary kept by the Avian Demography Unit of UCT during the Treasure oil spill:

[b]Friday — 23 June 2000[/b]
The iron-ore ship [i]Treasure[/i], which has been in trouble off the Western Cape coast for the past few days, sank early this morning. It went down 8 km northwest of Melkbosstrand, almost exactly opposite the Koeberg nuclear power station.
The place of sinking is approximately 20 km north of the African Penguin colony on Robben Island, and about 40 km south of the colony on Dassen Island.
The ship had 1300 tons of fuel oil on board. It seems almost inevitable that penguins will be oiled.

On 20 June 1994, six years and three days ago, the [i]Apollo Sea[/i] sank, initiating the worst penguin oiling incident ever, with about 10 000 penguins impacted. The [i]Apollo Sea[/i] leaked about 2000 tons of fuel oil into the sea. It was also an iron ore carrier.

[b]Saturday — 24 June 2000[/b]
Following the sinking of the [i]Treasure[/i], 200 to 300 oiled African Penguins have been admitted to SANCCOB today, and they have started washing them.
A small team from the Avian Demography Unit is going across to Robben Island tomorrow to assist with collecting oiled penguins there.

[b]Monday — 26 June 2000[/b]
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By late yesterday evening, SANCCOB had admitted just over 2000 oiled penguins, with about 1350 coming from Robben Island.
Oiled birds have been coming ashore on the mainland from Yzerfontein southwards.
Dassen Island reported about 60 oiled birds ashore.

The oil has come ashore onto Robben Island’s main landing area, so all arriving and departing birds are getting oiled.
Recent counts: [b]5700 pairs[/b], [b]6000 chicks[/b] – meaning [b]17 400 birds impacted[/b].

At this stage, we must prepare for a disaster potentially double the scale of the [i]Apollo Sea[/i] spill of 1994.

Overall, the emergency reaction has been far better than in 1994, though the oiling is severe, and cleaning the birds will be a major challenge.

[b]Monday evening — 26 June 2000[/b]
There are now about 2500 oiled penguins at SANCCOB, and about another 500 boxed on Robben Island.

A satellite cleaning station will be established tomorrow.

About 250 clean penguins from Robben Island have been flipper banded for transport to Port Elizabeth, where they will swim home after about 10 days.

Efforts to de-oil the main landing area have begun, with absorbent materials being used effectively.

More information and updates, including pictures (some graphic), are on the [url=https://www.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu/]ADU website[/url].

[b]Wednesday — 28 June 2000[/b]
Oil is now perilously close to Dassen Island.

[b]8500[/b] oiled penguins have been collected, and a satellite centre has been established.
It is expected that at least the same number, possibly many more, will need cleaning.

Unoiled penguins are being fenced on Robben and Dassen Islands to prevent them from going to sea.

140 unoiled penguins have been successfully transported to Algoa Bay — the first time this has ever been tried.

Experienced volunteers and wildlife vets are urgently needed!

Adopt A Penguin through the SANCCOB project to help!

[b]Thursday evening — 29 June 2000[/b]
An ADU team ringed about 160 unoiled birds at the MCM research aquarium for relocation.

Three SAP-sponsored satellite tags are being used to track penguins’ journeys.

A significant morale boost comes from the excellent work caring for over 1000 chicks being raised to fledging.

Of approximately 10 000 oiled penguins admitted to SANCCOB so far, only about 40 casualties — an outstanding success rate.

A big evacuation of Dassen Island is scheduled for tomorrow.

[b]Friday evening — 30 June 2000[/b]
There are now [b]16 000 oiled penguins[/b] distributed across SANCCOB and its satellite stations.

Mario Leshoro reports another [b]1656[/b] oiled penguins removed today.

Evacuation of clean penguins continues despite rougher seas. Weather has worsened but could help break up remaining oil.

[b]Saturday evening — 1 July[/b]
Twelve ringers visited Dassen Island today and banded about 800 birds.

Many Apollo Sea survivors were retrapped, now breeding.

A decision has been made to evacuate Dassen Island's penguins due to ongoing oil risks.
The planned evacuation could involve up to [b]40 000 birds[/b], the largest such evacuation since the Kariba Dam floods.

Volunteers are busy assembling penguin boxes and rescuing oiled birds.

A second SAP penguin will be tagged tomorrow at Yzerfontein.

[b]Sunday — 2 July[/b]
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The evacuation of Dassen Island penguins began today.

About [b]3500 birds[/b] boxed and transported by boat, helicopter, and truck to Port Elizabeth.

Second SAP satellite transmitter fitted during media event.

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