Most of you probably already know the dreadful effects oil spills have on our environment. Because of oil spills, many animals are dying. Crude oil can harm animals in many ways:
- It can cause hypothermia in birds (drowning them by breaking down the feather’s insulating capabilities which makes them heavier) and seals (destroys their insulating fur),
- Ingestion can either poison the animal or create toxins that can cause poisoning further up the food chain (Shellfish and corals are at risk because they do not have the capability to escape from the oil),
- Damage to the animal’s airways and immune systems,
- Damage to thinner turtle shells,
- Damage to sea grass beds as well as other feeding areas and;
- Algae, which has a vital role in waterway ecosystems.
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| Many animals are affected by oil spills |
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The problem is that getting rid of the spilled oil is a very difficult task. Oil can spread easily and is hard to remove from organic sands that are found in coastal wastelands and marshes. Oil is also capable of reducing the growth of marsh grasses, which are a key source of food and cover.
Cleaning the polluted water should be done carefully because aggressive ways of cleaning it may harm certain ecosystems – thus worsening the situation. On top of that, cleaning the water also requires a lot of money so in the process, economic damages are also guaranteed. Alternative methods can such as the use of microbes or a voraxial separator (device that's capable of separating liquids through centrifugal forces) can be used.
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| Voraxial Separator |
One of the most prominent organizations in the world that reponses to oil spills is The Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN). The OWCN is actually a statewide collective of trained wildlife providers,regulatory agencies, academic institutions and wildlife organizations that work together to rescue and rehabilitate the oiled wildlife in California. The OWCN also demonstrates the extene of the possibilities created when various institutions and organizations work together to achieve a common goal.
The OWCN was created by the California Department of Fish and Game as a response unit for oiled wildlife and is administered by the University of California-Davis. Since its creation, it had built or helped outfit a dozen facilities that are capable of rehabilitating animals in a short time and has cared for thousands of animals in more than 75 oil spills. When there is an oil spill in California, the Department of Fish and Game activates the OWCN which then moves rapidly to rescue all victims of the spill. The live animals that are rescued are taken to special facilities where they are treated for a few days until they are ready for cleaning (as you can see in the image below). These cleaned animals are then cared for by the OWCN until they return to normal.
Thanks to organizations such as the OWCN, we are able to save many different species from becoming extinct and preserve their biodiversity.
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