Photo Credit:  Northern Rockhopper/Nightingale Island  - Photo Credit:  Dr. Peter Ryan - FitzPatrick Institute/Cape Town

UPDATE FROM DR. PETER RYAN - FITZPATRICK INSTITUTE/CAPE TOWN 08/12/11   Dr. Ryan has received permission from Tristan da Cunha to visit Inaccessible Island for 3 weeks in Sept-Oct - He will survey the 2 Rockhopper colonies known to be impacted by oil.  Ryan last surveyed the colonies in 2009 and feels this will give him a good idea of the level of impact there.  It is hoped that the Tristan Conservation Division will do the same on Alex and Nightingale Islands as they will have no time to visit those islands.   The tags will be deployed on Gough Island and are considered the First Tracking of the Northern Rockhopper species.  Tristan/Nightingale tags will have to wait until 2012 - the upside is that this will allow the Rockhoppers "a chance to recover in peace following their harrowing last six months".      The largest colony impacted by the catastrophic M/S Oliva Oil Spill on 3/16 is on Nightingale Island.  98% of the 20,000 rescued died and/or were euthanized.  It took three weeks for help to arrive and then only a handful from Capetown's SANCCOB - a very high profile, effective rescue organization.  It should be noted the insurers were on Tristan within a few days.  Also, the Rockhopper count was reportedly close to 100,000 pair on Nightingale - the majority of which dove into the oil following the molting season heading to their feeding grounds - only now just returning.  It is the foundation's position that we will never know how many returned this month - the numbers that died have to be staggering.  And, Dr. Ryan will not be allowed on Nightingale this year - it is hoped that some word will come from Tristan via Capetown - We move on to 2012 and will keep you updated.  Be assured we are monitoring this closely.   Sandra Birnhak, Director   Nightingale Oil Spill - The Southern Ocean - Tristan da Cunha Archipelago - March 16th, 2011   There are times I don't know if I'm getting the message across adequately - We have an opportunity through scientists Rory Wilson & Peter Ryan to use the Daily Diary Tags on several of the Rockhoppers and Yellow Nosed Albatrosses. We need as much information as we can gather about this wildlife following a catastrophic oil spill that everyone largely ignored - even environmental groups. It is now being called one of the worst for loss of wildlife that has ever occured - 98%.  I can only say the media spin on this crisis is better than any I've ever seen; at times laughable - it was not difficult to be overcome with a deep sadness reading the lies and deception perpetrated by the insurers and ship owner.  We are being given a rare opportunity to do something tangible to help save a threatened species - I'm asking you to help us get these Daily Diary Tags.  Any donation helps but we need some deep pockets.  Let's help this wildlife.    Penguins have thrived in the Southern Hemisphere for millions of years, but they have encountered many threats to their survival since their discovery by man.  Our negative influence on the environment has now reached the remote Antarctic as well, affecting the penguins living and breeding in this once pristine location.  Sadly, for all penguin species, contact with humans has proved to be a losing proposition.    I hope this Prologue from Dyan deNapoli's recent release "The Great Penguin Rescue" (Simon & Schuster) will give you a better idea of what happened on Nightingale.  Dyan's tribute is to the 10th Anniversary of the Treasure Oil Spill off Cape Town - still considered the world's largest animal rescue from an oil spill.  It is a deeply moving book and has already garnered numerous awards.    The question is not, "Can they reason?" nor, "Can they talk?" but rather, "Can they suffer?"  - Jeremy Bentham, Eighteenth-Century Philosopher     Selected material from The Prologue - "The Great Penguin Rescue" by Dyan deNapoli   After being underwater for several minutes, it surfaced from where it had originally submerged. Only now, the penguin found itself in the midst of a thick and noxious substance that clung to its feathers and slowed it down as it swam.  The caustic oil got into the bird's eyes, burning them and making it hard to see.  Confused and anxious, the penguin struggled to make its way through the viscous black stuff floating on the surface of the ocean.  The heavy oil coating its body weighed it down, making it hard to keep its head above the water.  The penguin frantically pumped its wings, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to move.  With every breath, it inhaled some water, along with the traces of oil coating its beak.  Choking on the toxic mix burning its lungs and throat, the penguin coughed and struggled to breathe.    There was an island several miles off in the distance, but did the penguin have the strength to make it that far.  In its weakened state, it was several strenuous hours before the island was within reach.  As the penguin made its final approach, the breaking waves tossed it violently against the rocks, which were now slick with oil, causing it to slip and struggle to get its footing.  Exhausted, the penguin finally heaved itself onto the rocky beach, where hundreds of other penguins stood huddled together, the heavy black oil that slowly dripped from their bodies forming expanding black puddles around their feet.    Some of the penguins stood statue-still.  Hunched over, their wings hanging limply by their sides, they were in a state of shock...............first a few hundred penguins and then there were thousands.  Would anyone come to their rescue?   We really need your help.  Thanks so much.  Sandra