Percival the puffin found weak and covered in oil

A "very lucky" puffin has been rescued after he was found "weak, cold and covered in oil", an animal charity has said.

The GSPCA said it was currently caring for the puffin, which it named Percival, after he was found at Port Grat Beach, Guernsey, on Tuesday.

The charity said Percival was "rushed to the GSPCA" and his "feathers were heavily contaminated with oil, leaving him unable to fly, swim or feed properly".

It said stormy weather could "disturb settled oil or pollutants from the seabed, which then wash into coastal waters" which caused issues for seabirds. It followed reports of thousands of deceased seabirds washing up across the Channel Islands, UK and mainland Europe in recent days.

The GSPCA said Percival was one of the few survivors of a "worrying and widespread incident affecting coastal wildlife".

It said similar events in the past were caused by "severe storms and environmental disturbance".

"Rough weather exhausts many species of seabirds and makes feeding incredibly difficult," it said.

"When this oil coats a bird's feathers, it destroys their waterproofing, leaving them cold, unable to fly or float, and in danger of poisoning as they try to clean the toxic substance from their plumage."

Steve Byrne, GSPCA Manager, said people who find sick, injured or oiled seabirds should not try to clean the birds themselves.

"Keep a safe distance, contain the bird if it is safe to do so, and call the GSPCA immediately," he said.

"Oil is extremely dangerous, and without specialist care, many birds will not survive."

Members of the public have also been asked to report deceased birds across the islands.

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