NEWS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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August 27, 2010
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Cheryl Piropato, Education Director 260-427-6803 |
Fort Wayne Zoo Keepers Care for
Wildlife
Affected by Michigan Oil Spill
Every afternoon at 4 p.m., a vanload of Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo keepers and staff travels north to Marshall, Michigan to aid animals affected by the estimated 819,000 gallons of crude oil that leaked into the Kalamazoo River in July. The spill, caused by a broken pipeline operated by Enbridge Energy Partners L.P., affected thousands of animals and is being called one of the worst natural disasters in Michigan history.
Once they arrive at the Wildlife Response Center set up by Enbridge in Marshall, the Fort Wayne crew sets to work cleaning turtles rescued earlier in the day along a 30-mile stretch of river affected by the spill. Other groups assist rescued birds and mammals.
“Our zoo keepers have the expertise needed to work with these animals,” says zoo veterinarian Joe Smith, DVM, noting that reptile rescue efforts are being coordinated by the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan.
The turtles need a lot of help. “Many of the turtles are covered in black, gooey oil residue,” says Dr. Smith. “It can take hours to clean a single turtle.”
After undergoing required training and donning protective Tyvek clothing, masks, and booties to avoid contact with the toxic oil residue, the zoo keepers begin the meticulous task of removing the thick layer of oil coating each turtle. Using gauze, swabs, and disposable towels, they gradually remove the tarry oil from every bit of a turtle’s body.
“It’s very tedious work,” says Dr. Smith. So far, about 370 turtles have been brought to the site for cleaning and rehabilitation. Nearly 150 turtles have been released into the Kalamazoo River upstream of the spill. Map turtles, painted turtles, softshell turtles, and snapping turtles are among the species rescued.
In addition to cleaning the turtles, Dr. Smith and zoo veterinary technicians Maraiah Russell and Jennifer Diehl assist with medical evaluations of the turtles. “Although some of the turtles are minimally oiled and in decent health, most of the turtles we see are weak and debilitated,” Dr. Smith says. “The oil spill killed the fish and other foods that the turtles eat, which means the turtles may not have eaten for weeks.”
Zoo Keeper Dave Messmann, who cares for snakes, lizards, and turtles in the zoo’s Indonesian Rain Forest, has traveled to Marshall three times. “The oil is very sticky, and removing it from an animal is like trying to get tar off your car,” he says. “Sometimes it takes more than one night to get a turtle completely clean.”
Fort Wayne zoo keepers are assisting with the cleanup on their own time, as volunteers. The zoo provides a vehicle and gas for the crew to make the 180-mile round trip to Marshall every night.
Dr. Smith originally mobilized zoo keepers across the country to assist wildlife affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While keepers from some zoos have worked in the Gulf region, none from Fort Wayne have been called on to travel to the Gulf. However, Dr. Smith says the system put in place to assist Gulf wildlife made it easier to help with the Michigan spill.
Dr. Smith expects the zoo crew to continue their daily trek for many weeks. “We’ll help as long as we’re needed.”
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