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A local organization,
born out of an oil spill in San Francisco Bay that occurred
January 18, 1971, is marking its 30-year anniversary by responding
to a spill in one of the most environmentally critical places
on earth, the Galapagos Islands.
The nonprofit International Bird Rescue Research
Center (IBRRC), leading expert in the rescue and rehabilitation
of oiled wildlife, is joining the International Fund for Animal
Welfare (IFAW) in sending teams of specialists trained in
oiled wildlife rehabilitation to the Galapagos Islands, where
some of the most endangered species on earth are now threatened
by a massive oil spill.
“This is not how we wanted to celebrate our
anniversary," said Jay Holcomb, director of IBRRC and
veteran of over 100 spills, "but we have had thirty years
of experience with oiled wildlife and we are confident that
what we have learned will be of tremendous benefit to the
victims of the Galapagos spill."
The 1971 San Francisco Bay spill, run entirely
by volunteers who knew almost nothing about how to clean oiled
wildlife resulted in a survival rate of only 3% of the 7,000
birds collected. In contrast, this past summer, the MV Treasure
spilled 1,300 tons of bunker oil off the coast of South Africa,
threatening one of the largest colonies of African Penguins
in the world. IBRRC's response team was immediately mobilized
by IFAW to direct the rehabilitation effort of over 20,000
oiled penguins. Over 90% of the oiled birds were rehabilitated
and released.
IBRRC founder, Alice Berkner, said she is saddened
by the Galapagos spill, but feels that as long as oil is transported
on water, IBRRC will continue to respond to spills. "I
am comforted to know that IBRRC has developed oiled bird cleaning
techniques to the point that we can save many of the birds
affected by the spill."
IBRRC is part of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network,
(OWCN) a legislatively mandated program within The California
Department of Fish and Game, Office of Spill Prevention and
Response (OSPR).
In February 2001, IBRRC will open an 18,000 square-foot
facility, in Cordelia, California. The San Francisco Bay Oiled
Wildlife Care and Education Center will be IBRRC's new headquarters
and will house their local education program and ongoing aquatic
bird and mammal rehabilitation program.
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