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| Mystery substance could kill 'many more' birds | Mystery substance could kill 'many more' birds |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Wildlife experts have warned many more birds could be affected by the waxy substance found on guillemots washed up on the south coast. | Wildlife experts have warned many more birds could be affected by the waxy substance found on guillemots washed up on the south coast. |
| Hundreds of seabirds were found on beaches from Sussex to Cornwall on Thursday, many at Portland in Dorset. | Hundreds of seabirds were found on beaches from Sussex to Cornwall on Thursday, many at Portland in Dorset. |
| Scientists are trying to establish the nature and source of the substance, which may be palm oil. | Scientists are trying to establish the nature and source of the substance, which may be palm oil. |
| Several birds have died, but BBC wildlife presenter Chris Packham warned that could be the "tip of the iceberg". | Several birds have died, but BBC wildlife presenter Chris Packham warned that could be the "tip of the iceberg". |
| "What's particularly frightening is that if you're picking up a hundred on the beach, there could be very many more which have died and been lost at sea," he said. | "What's particularly frightening is that if you're picking up a hundred on the beach, there could be very many more which have died and been lost at sea," he said. |
| "If this is a substance which is toxic and then it gets into the food chain it can persist there for many years and have an influence over many other types of animal." | "If this is a substance which is toxic and then it gets into the food chain it can persist there for many years and have an influence over many other types of animal." |
| Scientists from the Environment Agency are meeting in Nottingham later to discuss tests on the material. | Scientists from the Environment Agency are meeting in Nottingham later to discuss tests on the material. |
| Dr Simon Boxall, of the National Oceanography Centre at the University of Southampton, thinks the substance may have been dumped into the English Channel by a ship. | Dr Simon Boxall, of the National Oceanography Centre at the University of Southampton, thinks the substance may have been dumped into the English Channel by a ship. |
| He said: "It sounds like - and it's pure speculation - that there's a ship out there somewhere that's flushed its tanks out illegally because it was being either too lazy or couldn't be bothered to pay the fees of having the tanks flushed in a port in the correct way." | He said: "It sounds like - and it's pure speculation - that there's a ship out there somewhere that's flushed its tanks out illegally because it was being either too lazy or couldn't be bothered to pay the fees of having the tanks flushed in a port in the correct way." |
| Most birds have been href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21292581" title="In Pictures: Seabird rescue" >found in Dorset but others are appearing in Sussex, Hampshire, Devon and Cornwall. | |
| The RSPCA said it had rescued more than 100 birds, which had been taken to the West Hatch Animal Centre in Taunton. | The RSPCA said it had rescued more than 100 birds, which had been taken to the West Hatch Animal Centre in Taunton. |
| Wildlife officers said the rescued birds did "not respond well" to the cleaning techniques normally used to remove oil. | Wildlife officers said the rescued birds did "not respond well" to the cleaning techniques normally used to remove oil. |
| It has now begun using other products, such as vegetable oil and margarine, to clean the birds with some success. | It has now begun using other products, such as vegetable oil and margarine, to clean the birds with some success. |
| RSPCA wildlife assistant Paul Kennedy said: "All we know at the moment is it appears to be vegetable based, so some kind of vegetable oil that's become congealed in the sea. | RSPCA wildlife assistant Paul Kennedy said: "All we know at the moment is it appears to be vegetable based, so some kind of vegetable oil that's become congealed in the sea. |
| "It's got stuck on the guillemots and once they get contaminated with it they lose their waterproofing, they can't feed, they can't keep warm so they get blown in with the south-westerly wind onto the coastline." | "It's got stuck on the guillemots and once they get contaminated with it they lose their waterproofing, they can't feed, they can't keep warm so they get blown in with the south-westerly wind onto the coastline." |
| Are you in the area? Send us your eye witness accounts using the form below | Are you in the area? Send us your eye witness accounts using the form below |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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