Vets Race to Save Endangered Birds Caught in Oil Spill Off The Coast of Peru

A zoo is racing to save seabirds, including penguins, that were covered in oil after 6,000 barrels of crude spilled off the coast of Peru.

The Parque de Las Leyendas zoo took in more than 40 birds after they were rescued from polluted beaches and nature reserves.

The birds' fate is unclear, according to a biologist.

We are doing everything we can. It is not a common occurrence and we are doing our best.

The veterinarians are bathing the birds with special detergents to remove the oil.

Anti-bacterial drugs and vitamins have been given to the animals.

A cormorant is receiving medical treatment. The zoo is called Parque de las Leyendas.

Bermudez said that they had never seen anything like this in the history of the country.

We didn't think it was going to be that big.

A tanker was hit by waves while unloading at a refinery and spilled 264,000 gallons of crude into the sea.

The eruption of a volcano near the archipelago of Tonga triggered large waves thousands of kilometers away.

The fishing and tourism industries have been harmed by the spill, and crews have been working non-stop to clean up the mess.

Cleaning crews are removing oil from a beach in Ancon. The zoo is called Parque de las Leyendas.

The bird food was contaminated.

If the oil spreads, more animals will die, according to a Biologist.

He said there are species that feed on crustaceans and fish that are already contaminated.

Serfor staff have found dead birds and sea otter on beaches and in natural reserves since the spill.

Birds depend on the sea for nutrition and reproduction.

There are different types of cormorants and penguins in need of help.

Juan Carlos Riveros, scientific director of rescue NGOs Oceana Peru, said that the oil could affect the reproductive capacity of some animals and cause birth defects.

The health ministry has warned bathers to stay away from the beaches that have been affected by the spilled oil.

The government wants compensation from Repsol, which owns the tanker.

The company says maritime authorities did not issue a warning of abnormal waves after the eruption.

Agence France-Presse.