Birds Frozen In Oil Battling For Survival In Louisiana Coast

June 6th, 2010 - 6:45 pm ICT by GD  

By Ranjan Bhaduri
jp-pelicans-1-articlelargeLouisiana, June 6, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The gulf of Mexico oil spill is taking its toll on Wildlife finally with the sea birds falling prey to the water coated with thick oil.

The pelicans in Queen Bess Island have been badly affected by the oil spill. Almost 30 birds were battling for their life after getting coated with thick oil. They had to be taken to a bird rehabilitation center located in Fort Jackson. Some other birds were taken to other rescue center. If the oil spill cannot be controlled the pelican sin Louisiana can be in great danger.

The images of the pelicans and other species like laughing gulls and northern gannets, smeared with oil are strongly reminiscent of the disaster of Exxon Valdez that took place 21 years back. The deepwater horizon rig explosion has triggered a crisis that now threatens to destroy the wildlife in neighboring states.

Some birds died after getting soaked in oil and the images of the birds evoke sheer pity and agony. The federal government tried to rescue the brown pelicans from the threat of extinction in the 1960s. The birds were brought from a colony in Florida and were paced in three spots in the southern coast of Louisiana.

The pelicans wee so badly coated in oil that they could hardly stand up on their own. The rescue workers tried to wipe off the oil with cloth and gave them food to recover. The next day they were cleaned once again with a mild dish detergent and hot water.

However, the birds survived because they were treated fast enough. The possibility of many other birds dying unnoticed looms large.

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