Seabirds set free after clean-up operation (From The Argus)

Seabirds set free after clean-up operation

8:28am Friday 2nd March 2007 in News By Lee Gibbs

Seabirds harmed by oil from a stricken container ship in east Devon have been released back into the wild after treatment by the RSPCA in East Sussex.

The first of almost 1,000 oil-drenched birds rescued from the pollution - a total of 28 guillemots - flew to freedom near Lynton on the north coast.

The guillemots were affected when oil leaked from the damaged 62,000-tonne container ship MSC Napoli after she was grounded off the east Devon coast at Sidmouth on January 20.

The birds were treated by experts at the RSPCA's West Hatch centre in Somerset.

More birds affected by oil from the Napoli were cared for and cleaned at the RSPCA Mallydams Wood wildlife centre near Hastings in East Sussex.

Around 100 of them have been released back into the wild from Pett Level near Winchelsea.

A total of 371 of the rescued birds were put to sleep to prevent further suffering and 28 died as a result of the pollution, said the RSPCA.

The remainder were still being treated by the animal charity at their specialist centres.

The Napoli was grounded after suffering hull damage in a Channel storm during which her 26-strong crew was rescued.

In the days following the grounding 3,500 tonnes of oil was pumped from the ship.