Duck rescue bid in polluted pond

The ducks have been taken by the RSPCA for specialist cleaning

A discarded oil canister has left ducks needing to be rescued from a Norfolk village pond covered by an oil slick.

Oil spilled into the newly refurbished Rod Alley Pond in Old Buckenham on Wednesday lunchtime.

RSPCA inspectors, who were called in by concerned local residents, waded into the pond to rescue the blackened birds in the morning.

The Environment Agency has begun cleaning the pond and a spokesman said it will seek to prosecute the culprit.

Bill Bartlett, who lives opposite the duck pond, said: "Yesterday afternoon we noticed an oil slick, looking over the new parapet here the source of it was a grey plastic jug, floating just below the surface, and sure enough it was used motor oil.

"This morning we saw the ducks terribly filthy, dirty and really unhappy with themselves, nibbling their feathers."

Oil seeped into the pond from a discarded canister

The ducks were rescued by RSPCA workers and taken to a wildlife hospital at East Winch for specialist cleaning.

Jason Finch, from the RSPCA, said: "Someone has either carelessly or callously left a one litre can of engine oil lying on its side next to the pond without a lid on so the oil has run into the pond really thick black oil.

"For a start the oil means their feathers aren't waterproofed so if they get wet the water gets through to the skin so they can get cold and die of hyperthermia - perhaps not so much of a concern in this weather but they still can die of cold.

"Also when they try and clean the oil off their feathers they can ingest it, get it in their system so they could die that way."

Peter Leonard, from the Environment Agency, said: "We're only talking a few litres of waste oil and it can have a big impact like this and cause quite a bit of damage.

"I'll put down some oil absorbent booms and pads, contain what's there and then we'll have a look at investigating what was actually left and what witnesses there are to see if we can find out who did this."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version