SINGAPORE – The two oil-soaked collared kingfishers that survived the June 14th oil spill incident in Singapore waters are in stable condition after extensive efforts by wildlife rescuers to save them, but they are not yet out of danger.
On June 26th, Minister for National Development, Desmond Lee said in a Facebook post that birds that survive oil spills typically require at least seven weeks of care to be nursed back to health.
Four kingfishers were rescued from different locations in Singapore following the Republic’s worst oil spill in over a decade, caused by a dredging boat colliding with a stationary bunker vessel at Pasir Panjang Terminal. Two of them subsequently died.
Kingfishers Under Treatment Following Oil Spill Rescue
One of the two surviving kingfishers is currently being treated at the National Parks Board’s (NParks) Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation, the other is under the care of the wildlife rescue group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres).
The collared kingfisher is the most widespread species of kingfisher in Singapore. It is found throughout the country, including urban areas away from water.
The bird, rescued from East Coast Park on June 16, currently spends most of its time in an incubator as part of its recovery process. It is maintained at a temperature of 28°C to 30°C because the oil affects the kingfisher’s ability to regulate its body temperature.
NParks’ group director Anna Wong informed, “It’s very difficult to clean oil off the bird because it gets into all the feathers. We can’t clean (the bird) every day because it gets too stressed. That’s why cleaning is not completed even though it has been with us for a while.”
The oil-soaked bird’s condition has stabilized for now. It is alert, eating well on its own, and has gained a bit of weight.
“It’s too early to say if it is on the road to recovery, because when birds get stressed, they can get anaemia, where they have low levels of red blood cells,” Dr Wong added. While its feathers are still dark from the oil stains and could remain so permanently.
Update On Oil-Soaked Kingfisher’s Recovery
At Acres, the kingfisher under its care showed signs of improvement. The bird was rescued on June 17 from Lazarus Island, approximately a 40-minute boat ride from Marina South.
Acres co-chief executive Kalai Vanan Balakrishnan commented on the chances of recovery: “I will still be conservative and say 30 percent to 50 percent. Kingfishers always get stressed easily, so anything can happen in captivity.”
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The bird’s natural waterproof coating, which helps it to fly even after diving into the water, has been washed off while removing the oil. This coating needs to be restored naturally over six to seven months.
Dr. Wong from NParks mentioned that the organizations are collaborating following the oil spill and will leverage each other’s expertise.
NParks’ Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre typically cares for native animals such as birds and reptiles, while the S.E.A Aquarium could assist with marine mammals. The Mandai Wildlife Group has specialized equipment for further diagnostic needs of animals.
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