We recently attended the Effects of Oil on Wildlife (EOW) Conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
This globally significant event for the oiled wildlife response community takes place every three years, and this year’s edition was particularly special as it was the first time it had been held in Africa.
Jointly organised by Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research and SANCCOB, with support from OSRL, GOWRS, ExxonMobil, and other partners, the conference brought together experts, responders, researchers, and industry stakeholders from around the world. We were proud to serve as a lead sponsor, alongside GOWRS and ExxonMobil, under the banner of “African Penguin Champions.”
EOW is more than just a conference, it’s a community gathering, a scientific forum, and a platform for collaboration. It welcomes newcomers (including OSRL colleagues from South Africa) while reuniting long-time collaborators across continents. The event blends rigorous science with informal networking, leaving attendees feeling rejuvenated, inspired, and more connected.
This year’s conference also commemorated the 25th anniversary of the MV Treasure oil spill, one of the largest wildlife rescue operations in history. A special opening plenary, moderated by OSRL’s Wildlife Technical Authority Paul Kelway, honoured the responders who cared for 20,000 oiled African penguins and pre-emptively relocated another 20,000 to prevent further impact.
The meeting opened with a powerful reflection on the response to the Treasure oil spill, highlighting both the extraordinary efforts of those involved and the ongoing challenges facing the now critically endangered African penguins today. Speakers revisited the scale and impact of the disaster and the long-term survival and breeding success of the released penguins, drawing connections to current conservation pressures such as declining fish stocks, habitat degradation, and climate change. The session emphasised the importance of collaborative action and long-term commitment to safeguarding the species.
The wildlife responders who attended the Treasure spill were also formally honoured during the conference banquet on Wednesday evening, in a moving tribute that celebrated their dedication and the legacy of their work. The recognition served as a reminder of what can be achieved through coordinated response and deep care for wildlife.
Paul Kelway, part of the IFAW Emergency Relief Team that came to SANCCOB’s aid during the Treasure response, and Shamen Bunsee, who assisted as part of the South African Navy, were among those recognised with a commemorative challenge coin from SANCCOB.
OSRL’s Role and Reflections
Throughout the week, OSRL played a key role in shaping discussions around preparedness and response capacity. Wildlife Response Operational Lead for OSRL, Franchesca Rouse, participated in a panel exploring what a “Treasure-level” incident would look like today, highlighting improvements such as the integration of Tier 3 wildlife response organisations into industry systems via OSRL.
A poster session showcased the GOWRS Assessment Team and Sea Alarm deployment in Angola during ExxonMobil’s Tier 3 Exercise in 2023, with hopes to replicate similar exercises across Africa. The closing meeting of the event, moderated by Paul Kelway and featuring representatives from ExxonMobil, GI WACAF, ITOPF, SANCCOB, and Sea Alarm, focused on wildlife response preparedness in Africa and beyond. OSRL Members also joined via livestream as part of a special Wildlife Week collaboration.
A heartfelt thank you to SANCCOB, Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, and all who contributed to making EOW 2025 a success.
