500 Ducks Reared for Shooting are Rescued Instead from Wales Oil Spill

Last Thursday, thick motor oil was dumped into a farm pond in Glyndyfrdwy, Wales, coating not just the water, but also up to 500 mallard ducks.

According to BBC News, these ducks were originally reared for shooting, but have now been handed over to the UK’s leading animal welfare charity, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) for care and rehabilitation.

Nearly 200 of the 500 ducks have been rounded up from the lake thus far and others are still being rescued. Nine ducks have unfortunately already passed away from this act of vandalism.

“There is no doubt that  this oil was deliberately dumped and these poor birds have been suffering as a result. If we were not wading into the rescue they would be unlikely to survive,” said RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben via the Daily Post.

“Oil can be incredibly damaging to birds – affecting their plumage and so their ability to stay warm and dry. It can also cause a lot of internal injuries if ingested,” continued Hogben via the Daily Post.

Thankfully, these birds are now in safe hands and receiving care at the RSPCA’s West Hatch Wildlife Center in Taunton, Somerset, England. After the ducks are thoroughly washed, they are kept in pools so that the RSPCA staff can check to ensure they are not suffering any lasting effects from the oil, reports BBC News.

Once the ducks prove fit for release, they will not face their original fate as shooting targets. Instead, they will be freed into the wild, able to roam the land and sky as nature intended.

For anyone with information regarding this oil spill in Glyndyfrdwy, please contact the RSPCA at 0300 123 8018 or the North Wales Police at 0800 555111.

Image source: BBC News