After a recent oil spill near the Point-a-Pierre harbour, the El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation helped rescue over ten oil-covered pelicans.
The centre’s founder, Ricardo Meade, said it’s sad to see the population of these majestic seabirds face yet another threat.
Of the many different species of pelicans found around the world, the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is the only native species found in Trinidad and Tobago.
Meade told Newsday Kids, “Pelicans spend a lot of time sitting on the water or plunging into the water to feed. This brings them into direct contact with surface oil spills.”
[caption id="attachment_908774" align="alignnone" width="683"] The El Socorro Wildlife Centre for Wildlife Conservation has reported that some pelicans have died in the Gulf of Paria because of an oil spill. - Photo courtesy Aarti Gosine[/caption]
Meade said in the past the local pelican population had been declining owing to overhunting and the effect of chemical pollutants from industrial activities near the Gulf of Paria.
The birds are now protected by law under the Conservation of Wildlife Act. And one of the chemicals that used to run off into the Gulf – an insecticide know as DDT – is now banned worldwide. (In case you're wondering, DDT stands for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane – phew! that's a long word!)
These two factors have meant that the birds were under less threat, but now that their population numbers have recovered, Meade fears oil spills will reverse the progress they have made.
So how does an oil spill affect pelicans?
[caption id="attachment_908775" align="alignnone" width="1024"] When pelicans are rescued from an oil spill, they are first examined to determine how the oil has affected them. While oil on the pelican's feathers is the most visible effect of oil spills, some pelicans may also ingest oil which can damage the seabird's gastrointestinal system. - Photo courtesy Aarti Gosine[/caption]
Meade explained, “The black oil coating can increase their body temperature significantly and, because the coating is sometimes so heavy, it can lead to them drowning in the water."
He also said that the oil is considered a toxin, and if the birds swallow it, the oil can destroy their gastrointestinal system.
But Meade added that pelicans can also die from starvation because they cannot fly or hunt properly when they are covered in oil.
Oil spills can also affect the animals the pelicans feed on, in both the short term and longer.
“It’s a seabird and its diet consists of mainly fish. I say mainly fish because they have been known to consume other things, out of curiosity or desperation," Meade explained. “For example, they would eat octopus, squid, lobster or even shrimps.”
When fishing, pelicans glide up to 40 feet above the water and dive to catch fish.
[caption id="attachment_908773" align="alignnone" width="683"] The El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation has rescued over ten oil covered pelicans in the Gulf of Paria after an oil spill in Point-a-Pierre. -
