We got a nice note from our compatriot, Mike “Shorty” Short, from Australia this week. He’s sharing a photo and news of the successful rehabilitation of beautiful White Pelicans after the Moreton oil spill:
We released the 13 pelicans yesterday – from a total of 16 animals in captive care – rest released earlier except for 1 that was euthanased that was not in relation to the spill or captive care issues.
I am still involved with the spill dealing with environmental matters for the response though most now relate to one of the wetlands and cleanup up of staging areas and revegetation of damaged dune plant communities.
At week nine all is going well though looking forward to the down hill run to completion that should only be a few more weeks
Regards,
Shorty
Mike works for the Queensland government as the Manager – Incident Response Unit for the Department of Environment & Resource Management.
The pelicans were oiled in March at the Moreton Bay oil spill that struck in one of Australia’s worst oil disasters. A cyclone slammed cargo ship, Pacific Adventurer leaked 270,000 litres of fuel into Moreton Bay, blackening beaches on Moreton and Bribie islands and along the Sunshine Coast.