The first cleaned swans expelled after an oil spill



[ad_1]

The first 41 of the 500 oil-swan swans in the Rotterdam port area three weeks ago were released today.

They stayed for several weeks after a heavy oil leak in a temporary shelter at van Maeslantkering in Hoek Holland. The waterfowl was coated with oil after tanker Bow Jubal crashed into a jetty at the 3rd Petroleumhaven on June 23rd.

Cleaning operation

The 500 swans have been cleaned and extensively cared for in recent weeks. Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen (Waterstaat and Infrastructure), who participated in the clean-up operation, congratulated and thanked these volunteers. "I am happy that the first swans are flying away now, deeply greeting the volunteers and the specialists."

Swans in the Swan Washing Line (ANP)

The swans were able to strengthen in the last days after the cleaning operation. When they were sufficiently reinforced, they were carefully washed and placed in special outdoor pools. Their plumage could be made waterproof again.

Expanded

More and more swans will be published in the coming weeks. For this purpose, special release points in the Bas-Rhin region have been selected on the recommendation of experts and Staatsbosbeheer. We examined the quality of the water and the presence of food, but also the degree of maritime traffic and the amount of leisure. They can join a new group of swans.

Some of the swans are moulting, so they lose their flying feathers and can not fly temporarily. According to Rijkswaterstaat, it is not impossible that some swans return to the Rotterdam harbor area by themselves.

Hundreds of swans under the oil:

Stretched birds were found scattered over an area of ​​10 kilometers. Not all swans have survived.

More information on rtlnieuws.nl:

RTL News / ANP

[ad_2]
Source link