Silent Spring

The Environmental cost of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Again the environment is paying the cost of the reckless activities of Man. More than 5,000 barrels a day is gushing into the Ocean from the embers of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig

Already environmentalists have stated that dolphins, turtles and bird populations will be affected due to the spill. It is also likely that the oil will also hit a number of barrier islands that have yet to recover from the damage caused by hurricane Katrina.

More than 400 species of wildlife are under threat from the continuing spread of the oil. The area is especially significant because of the unusual combination of land and sea that makes up the local environment. The area also contains 25% of US wetlands; an area low in human occupancy and therefore perfect for birds and local wildlife. The species of special concern include; brown pelicans, heron, oystercatchers, plovers, swallows and buntings. Other affected animals include; manatees and Atlantic bluefin tuna.

The long term consequences of the spill are yet to be determined but in a region that has been hit recently with a number of natural disasters the prospects for local wildlife off the Gulf of Mexico doesn’t look good.

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Silent Spring