Endangered Penguins Caught in Oil Spill | National Geographic

Nightengale island nearby tristan da

Nightengale island nearby tristan da cunha are some of the remotest islands

cunha are some of the remotest islands

cunha are some of the remotest islands in the world over a thousand miles in

in the world over a thousand miles in

in the world over a thousand miles in any direction from inhabited lands as

any direction from inhabited lands as

any direction from inhabited lands as such these were some of the least

such these were some of the least

such these were some of the least polluted environments on earth that was

polluted environments on earth that was

polluted environments on earth that was until last week when the MV Olivas

until last week when the MV Olivas

until last week when the MV Olivas sailing from Brazil crashed headlong

sailing from Brazil crashed headlong

sailing from Brazil crashed headlong into the island and spilled over 800

into the island and spilled over 800

into the island and spilled over 800 tons of fuel oil into the sea

tons of fuel oil into the sea

tons of fuel oil into the sea nightingale Island is a vital breeding

nightingale Island is a vital breeding

nightingale Island is a vital breeding ground for the already endangered

ground for the already endangered

ground for the already endangered northern Rockhopper penguin

northern Rockhopper penguin

northern Rockhopper penguin and now the islands entire population is

and now the islands entire population is

and now the islands entire population is at risk

at risk

at risk I arrived over a week after the incident

I arrived over a week after the incident

I arrived over a week after the incident had occurred and yet I was still among

had occurred and yet I was still among

had occurred and yet I was still among the very first humans to see the full

the very first humans to see the full

the very first humans to see the full extent of this horrific event I saw

extent of this horrific event I saw

extent of this horrific event I saw hundreds of rockhopper penguins covered

hundreds of rockhopper penguins covered

hundreds of rockhopper penguins covered in sticky black peel oil several of them

in sticky black peel oil several of them

in sticky black peel oil several of them were preening themselves trying to get

were preening themselves trying to get

were preening themselves trying to get the oil off the feathers in the process

the oil off the feathers in the process

the oil off the feathers in the process and destiny oil which is poisonous to

and destiny oil which is poisonous to

and destiny oil which is poisonous to the birds fortunately a relief crew

the birds fortunately a relief crew

the birds fortunately a relief crew arrived a few days ago from South Africa

arrived a few days ago from South Africa

arrived a few days ago from South Africa but still there are only a dozen of them

but still there are only a dozen of them

but still there are only a dozen of them and they are confronting a tragedy this

and they are confronting a tragedy this

and they are confronting a tragedy this far beyond the scope of a few hands

far beyond the scope of a few hands

far beyond the scope of a few hands luckily yesterday over 750 fuel covered

luckily yesterday over 750 fuel covered

luckily yesterday over 750 fuel covered Penguins were collected and are in the

Penguins were collected and are in the

Penguins were collected and are in the process of getting things now there’s an

process of getting things now there’s an

process of getting things now there’s an added element of tragedy for the people

added element of tragedy for the people

added element of tragedy for the people of Tristan a population of less than 300

of Tristan a population of less than 300

of Tristan a population of less than 300 we have always prided themselves in the

we have always prided themselves in the

we have always prided themselves in the pollution-free stage of their islands I

pollution-free stage of their islands I

pollution-free stage of their islands I also noticed several baby fur seal pups

also noticed several baby fur seal pups

also noticed several baby fur seal pups born this last season with patches of

born this last season with patches of

born this last season with patches of oil on their fur and with obvious

oil on their fur and with obvious

oil on their fur and with obvious effects from the spill still it’s the

effects from the spill still it’s the

effects from the spill still it’s the Penguins who take priority since they

Penguins who take priority since they

Penguins who take priority since they are endangered the remaining population

are endangered the remaining population

are endangered the remaining population has been penned in to prevent them from

has been penned in to prevent them from

has been penned in to prevent them from going back into the sea this was such a

going back into the sea this was such a

going back into the sea this was such a difficult thing to witness and I hope

difficult thing to witness and I hope

difficult thing to witness and I hope that I never have to see it again