Piece Description

A team of expert veterinarians is always on alert to help save animals from the devastating consequences of marine oil spills. Whenever there's an oil spill, the International Fund for Animal Welfare's Emergency Relief Team gets the call. Team members rush to the site, where they set up shelters and rescue stations for penguins, sea lions, and other injured wildlife. In 2000, a freighter sank off South Africa, spilling a thousand tons of fuel oil near islands that were home to 40 percent of the world's African penguins. The IFAW team went into action in what became the world's largest animal rescue operation. By the time they were finished, more than 20,000 penguins had received care. The relief team has also rescued wildlife near the Galapagos Islands and nursed penguins back to health in Argentina. The IFAW's Emergency Relief Team has saved the lives of countless animals, and it relies on public support and the help of thousands of volunteers.