Written by Jamie Small, from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), on behalf of JNCC and Cefas,
The UK authorities’s Ocean Nation Partnership Programme (OCPP) crew share updates on oiled wildlife response coaching not too long ago delivered in Sri Lanka.
JNCC and Cefas, via the UK’s Ocean Nation Partnership Programme (OCPP), have not too long ago supported the supply of oiled wildlife response coaching for 30 frontline responders throughout Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Authorities of Sri Lanka and The South African Basis for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB).
The OCPP has been working with the Division of Wildlife Conservation in Sri Lanka and SANCCOB to strengthen Sri Lanka’s capability and experience in oiled wildlife response. Beneath this partnership, SANCCOB, an NGO that specialises in seabird and oiled wildlife response, held a 3-day Oiled Wildlife Response Coaching Programme in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka in early February 2024. The programme was attended by 2 Assistant Administrators, 10 Wildlife Rangers, 5 Ranger Assistants who’re chargeable for the administration of protected areas, and three vets who’re chargeable for the therapy of wildlife, from the Division of Wildlife Conservation in Sri Lanka. They have been joined by 10 nationwide environmental consultants from native NGOs, different Authorities businesses and academia, who additionally introduced their information and experience on the native surroundings and species.
This course will assist construct the muse of an oiled wildlife response community, enhancing Sri Lanka’s present collaborative motion to sustainably handle and defend the marine surroundings, benefitting the native communities that depend on these coastal ecosystems.
The coaching geared up contributors with the abilities, information and confidence to answer the preliminary part of an oil spill and attend to affected wildlife together with seabirds, marine mammals and turtles earlier than specialist responders arrive on the scene. An outline of operations, necessities and assets wanted in the course of the preliminary part of a response was supplied earlier than contributors have been in a position to achieve sensible expertise. Contributors donned full Private Protecting Tools (PPE) used throughout an oiled wildlife response, and learnt concerning the poisonous nature of pollution, and the significance of private security as a responder.
Utilizing ‘robo duck’, a robotic duck that simulates the motion of a wild chook, contributors ran via a collection of subject situations to learn to stabilise oiled wildlife and supply fundamental important care in the course of the first few days post-capture. The course ended with an summary of classes realized from completely different case research and the way these may very well be utilized to Sri Lanka.
The OCPP will proceed to work with the Authorities of Sri Lanka over the subsequent two years to construct upon the oiled wildlife response technical help delivered thus far, together with the event of an in depth Oiled Wildlife Response Contingency Plan linked to Sri Lanka’s Nationwide Oil Spill Contingency Plan and facilitation of additional coaching alternatives.
The Ocean Nation Partnership Programme (OCPP) is a UK Authorities-led official improvement help (ODA) programme beneath the Blue Planet Fund, delivered by the Centre for Surroundings, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Marine Administration Organisation (MMO) on behalf of the Division for Surroundings, Meals and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Discover out extra concerning the OCPP.
