International Bird Rescue to Support Wildlife Response Efforts in New Zealand Following Tauranga Oil Spill

Oiled wildlife specialists from International Bird Rescue and California’s Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) have been deployed to New Zealand following a request for support by Massey University’s Oiled Wildlife Response Team. Massey’s Wildlife Health Center is assisting Maritime New Zealand and the Department of Conservation with the rescue and rehabilitation of any birds or other wildlife affected by the oil spill from the cargo ship MV Rena.

To date, six of International Bird Rescue’s experienced oiled wildlife responders have been activated as well as the Director of California’s Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN), Dr. Michael Ziccardi. International Bird Rescue and OWCN staff will be working collaboratively with the team of veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitators from Massey University, led by wildlife veterinarians Kerri Morgan and Helen McConnell. More than 50 birds have already been retrieved and the number of oiled animals is expected to escalate in coming days as oil continues to wash ashore.

For more information on the wildlife response click here: