Penguins Fouled With Oil Wash Ashore in Southern Argentina

At least 100 oil coated penguins have appeared on the shores of the Patagonia region in southern Argentina from the Straits of Magellan in recent weeks. The carcasses of the dead birds were discovered at a nature reserve in Cabo Virgenes, which is located about 1500 miles south of the capital city of Buenos Aires.

The penguins, which live in the Straits of Magellan, migrate each year thousands of miles northward from Antarctica to breed. As many as 100 surviving, but soiled penguins have been taken into the care of rescue workers who are removing the oil from their feathers. An investigation has been launched by maritime authorities in Argentina to determine if the oil could have emanated from any of the many offshore platforms or tankers that operate in the area.