The challenge
A sinking ore carrier leaked fuel oil next to the world’s largest African penguin colonies.
The case
On 23 June 2000 the MV Treasure sank off Cape Town, spilling fuel oil near Robben and Dassen islands, then home to the world's largest African penguin breeding colonies. SANCCOB, the regional seabird rescue centre, led a response with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, government agencies and thousands of volunteers. More than 20,000 oiled penguins were taken in for cleaning. About 19,500 un-oiled birds were caught and moved to Cape Recife, near Port Elizabeth, about 800 km east, so they could not swim back before the oil was cleared. By the end of the three-month response, over 90% of the oiled birds had been rehabilitated and released. Later studies found many cleaned birds bred less successfully than un-oiled ones.
Why it worked
A standing rescue centre, trained volunteers and the bold step of moving clean birds away saved most of a threatened population, though oiled birds still suffer lasting harm.
Sources
- Wolfaardt, A.C. et al. (2009). Review of the rescue, rehabilitation and restoration of oiled seabirds in South Africa, especially African penguins and Cape gannets, 1983–2005. African Journal of Marine Science 31(1): 31–54.
- International Bird Rescue. Helping save 20,000 oiled penguins in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Oil Spill Response Ltd (2025). 25 years on from the MV Treasure spill: wildlife response evolution.
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