Latest reports indicate the oil tanker has been pulled from the river and of the six sections containing oil, two remained intact. Those sections held 100,000 of the 350,000 litres on board. First reports of wildlife losses mention dead otters, fish and lizards in the water but no numbers are available at this time.
The oil is said to have spread anywhere from 50 to 80 km, although no official estimates have been given. The Pashur River and many small creeks, in addition to the Shela where the accident occurred, are now reported to be affected. The shipping route is now closed indefinitely.
A tanker carrying approximately 350,000 litres of heating fuel was hit by another ship in the Banglesh Sundarbans on 9 December 2014. Heavy fog is being blamed for the incident. The oil has traveled along nearly 40 km of the Sela River in Bangladesh, in a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to endangered dolphins and tigers.
Following most oil spills, the first thought is what species are birds are likely to be affected? But this site is different. One of the world’s largest mangrove forests, the region also includes a sanctuary where large numbers of Irrawaddy river dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris), a species listed as vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List, and smaller numbers of endangered Ganges river dolphins (Plantantista gangetica), are resident.
It isn’t often that Oiledwildlife.eu features tiger photos but several hundred endangered Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) are present in the region and there is concern that the tigers may be affected by feeding on contaminated crabs. In addition to the danger of eating contaminated prey, the dolphins are at risk from inhaling petroleum fumes when they surface to breathe.
Just over the border in India, the Forest Department, Border Security Force and Coast Gaurd are monitoring the movement of the oil. One area wildlife biologists are worried about is the coral reef at St. Martin’s Island, where Olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), another species listed as vulnerable to extinction, are expected to return soon for the nesting season.
But there are birds at risk, as well. The region is one of the important wintering areas for a number of species of shorebirds such as critically endangered spoon-billed sandpipers (Caladris pygmaea). Other wintering water birds include dowitchers, egrets, ibis and herons. Three species of stork are resident, as are three species of fish-eating birds of prey.
As of 11 December, response has been limited to placing buoys around the oil. Local fishermen have placed nets across the entrances to smaller canals in an effort to slow the movement of the oil in the delta. The Bangladeshi Navy and other government officials are reported to be en route to begin salvaging the tanker.
Resources:
UN send team to help clean up Bangladesh oil spill. Business Daylive. Accessed online 18.12.2014
Disaster in the Sundarbans. Birdlife International. Accessed online18.12.2014
Bangladesh oil spill ‘threatens rare dolphins.’ 2014. BBC News Asia. Accessed online 10.12.2014
‘Catastrophic’ Bangladesh oil spill threatens rare dolphins. 2014. Channel NewsAsia. Accessed online 9.12.2014
Oil spill alarm in Sundarban mangroves. 2014. The Economic Times (Times of India). Accessed online 12.12.2014
350,000 litres oil spills in river as tanker sinks in Sundarbans; triggers environment concerns. 2014. India.com. Accessed online 12.12.2014
Disaster in Sundarbans. 2014. Prothom-alo Bangladesh. Accessed online 12.12.2014