Recovery efforts are underway after an oil spill caused by the vandalism of a nearby home heating oil tank resulted in the death of 13 birds from Broughshane Waterfowl Park in County Antrim. More than 20 birds were transported to the USPCA headquarters for urgent specialist care following the incident, which forced the popular attraction to close while cleanup operations continue.
Devastating Impact on Local Wildlife
Gary Hayward, chairman of the Broughshane Environment Wildfowl and Wildlife Trust, told BBC News NI that the incident has been a nightmare and left the organization devastated. A volunteer discovered the spill on Thursday morning after smelling kerosene and finding black swans completely covered in oil. The park houses 120 collection birds alongside wild birds, and Hayward noted that some of the 13 lost birds were very close to them.
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) was alerted to the incident on Thursday, October 22, and dispatched inspectors who deployed oil absorbent booms and other countermeasures. An agency spokesperson stated that the substance was identified as home heating oil, or kerosene, and its source was traced to a nearby tank. Hayward praised the NIEA and the USPCA for their instrumental roles in treating sick birds and clearing the spillage, expressing hope that the event will deter future acts of vandalism.
Rescue and Rehabilitation Challenges
USPCA wildlife supervisor Siobhan Hawthorn described the situation as massively frustrating, noting that the birds suffered needlessly due to human carelessness. She and her team worked tirelessly to bathe the contaminated geese, ducks, and swans and administered doses of charcoal to combat ingested toxins. Hawthorn explained that some birds could not be reached quickly enough and ingested too much oil, while the emotional and mental toll on the staff has been considerable.
The centre remains uncertain about how long they will need to care for the remaining birds, as animals can hide illnesses until it is too late. Because most of the rescued birds are non-native species, they cannot be returned to the habitat until the pond is completely cleaned and cleared.
Police have appealed for anyone with information regarding the vandalism to come forward.
