Mauritius: A Tropical Paradise in Distress
MV Wakashio Oil Spill Relief Efforts
MV Wakashio Oil Spill Relief Efforts
The Japanese freighter ‘MV Wakashio’ ran aground on Mauritius’ coral reefs on Saturday 25th of July 2020.
It remained stuck and started breaking apart 12 days later on Thursday 6 August, releasing 1000 of its 4000 tons of heavy bunker fuel into the pristine waters of the Indian Ocean, as a large gash appeared on the side of the vessel.
Mauritius has declared a state of environmental emergency, and the French government has sent technical support to assist with the disaster response. In addition, independently-organized local volunteers have been working to clean up and protect beaches with improvised materials.
Since then NGOs, volunteers and the government efforts are carrying out salvage operations using small tourist boats, simple fishing vessels and home made oil booms made from clothing, plastic bottles sugarcane leaves.
The community has shown an unprecedented willingness to donate their time and resources to limit this unprecedented ecological disaster. Even in some instances, donating their hair to construct oil booms.
A smaller number of volunteer had also been working with the local environmental NGOs to evacuate endangered species to safer parts of the island, until the full extent of the damage on Ile Aux Aigrettes and surrounding areas can be assessed.
The MV Wakashio crashed on the pristine reefs of Mauritius next to one of its most protected atolls . This protected coral atoll, Ile aux Aigrettes, contains species not found anywhere else on the island or in the world.
Already the oil spill has started to surround this atoll, the large fringing reef (one of Mauritius’ best preserved having survived waves of coral bleaching impacting other parts of the Indian Ocean), and is drifting simultaneously toward the historic Port City of Mahebourg , famous for its naval Napoleonic battles , the National Marine Park of Blue Bay and North toward other protected coral atolls .
Do not attempt to clean the animal yourself. This is a specialist task and you may cause irreparable damage if you try to remove the oil. It is advised to call NPCS to deal with the animal (see contact details in next slides) but if it is not practical in the circumstances and you decide to pick up the bird please take great care.
To be sent to the National Parks and Conservation Service (NPCS)
Cleaning centre: Visitors Centre, Bras d’Eau National Park, Poste Lafayette
Contact: 57892013 and 52511984
24 Hour service
Steps to handle the bird:
To be sent to Fisheries Service
Deliver to: Blue Bay Marine Park Centre, Blue Bay
Cleaning centre: Albion Fisheries Centre, Albion
Contact: 5915 1351, 238 49 25
If you are able to take the oiled turtle to the Fisheries Service in Blue Bay yourself, please do so.
You can also take the oiled turtle to the MWF office opposite Ile aux Aigrettes at Pointe Jerome (office hours only) or call 5473 0103 or 5258 8139 for assistance if you have no transport or are uncertain what to do.
You can also call NPCS 57892013 and 52511984 who will assist.
Step to handling a turtle:
If you find several turtles it is best if they can each be in a separate container.
Even though you might be eager to help and be proactive your safety comes first!
Zosterops chloronothus
The Olive White-eye has suffered chronically from continuing habitat destruction and degradation as a result of invasion by exotic plants. Between 2007 and 2010, a translocation enabled the establishment of a small sub-population on Ile aux Aigrettes, and birds have since successfully fledged young there every breeding season since 2008/09.