More than 275 African penguins and Cape gannets were rescued in South Africa after a spill near Port Elizabeth, South Africa. A bulk carrier, the Kiani Satu, ran aground on 9 August 2013 off Buffels Bay carrying 330 tonnes of heavy fuel.
An estimated 3 tonnes of fuel leaked before the remaining oil could be pumped to higher parts of the vessel. On 17 August the vessel was refloated and moved offshore, but it then sank on 21 August out at sea.
The South African Foundation for Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) was engaged by the ship owner to manage the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife affected by the incident. Working closely with South Africa National Parks (SANParks) Marine Rangers, SANCCOB rescued 112 endangered African Penguins and 172 Cape Gannets, a species listed as Vulnerable to Extinction by the IUCN . One white-breasted cormorant was also taken in for rehabilitation.
It is likely that many of the birds encountered the oil at sea while foraging, rather than on beaches. Nearly a third of the gannets were found by rescuers patrolling Bird Island, the largest Cape gannet rookery in South Africa, where the birds were returning for breeding season.