AZA members come to the aid of South African penguins following oil spill.

On Friday, 23 June, the oil tanker Treasure, carrying about 1300 tons of fuel oil, ruptured and sank six miles off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. The oil spill directly affected Robben Island, home to more than 20,000 wild African penguins. "This is devastating," said Steve Sarro, curator of birds for The Baltimore Zoo and coordinator of the AZA African Penguin Species Survival Plan. "This spill is hitting just in the midst of the breeding season and there are approximately 6,000 penguin chicks that have been abandoned." About 20% of the wild population of African penguins are nesting on islands affected by this spill.

According to Tom Schneider, coordinator of the AZA Penguin Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) and curator of birds for the Detroit Zoological Institute, "experts from seven AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are going to South Africa on 30 June to assist with feeding the chicks, cleaning the adults, the relocation of the birds and any other efforts they can make on behalf of this wild population." Bird staffers from The Baltimore Zoo, Utah's Hogle Zoo, Mystic Marinelife Aquarium, New England Aquarium, Riverbanks Zoo, and SeaWorlds of Orlando and Calfornia will be flying at a reduced rate courtesy of South Africa Airlines. Mervyn's of California has generously donated funds to the Penguin TAG to help with expenses while they are in country.