Resident birds have returned to Broughshane Waterfowl Park in County Antrim following a closure prompted by a vandalism-linked oil spill that killed 13 members of the flock, according to recent updates.
The incident began when a home heating oil tank was damaged at a business premises located in the Main Street area of Broughshane, according to police statements. Authorities estimated that approximately 44 gallons, or 200 litres, of home heating oil or kerosene leaked from the vandalized tank and entered the park’s pond.
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency received its first alert about the contamination on Thursday, October 22, and subsequently worked to extract the hazardous waste. Gary Hayward, chairman of the Broughshane Environment Wildfowl and Wildlife Trust, noted that the environmental agency successfully cleared the vast majority of the substance. Hayward credited the agency with mitigating the disaster, stating that officials made the situation significantly less severe than it could have been.
The chair of Broughshane Waterfowl Park says he is “devastated” after an oil spill caused by the vandalism of a home heating oil tank resulted in the death of 13 birds. Read more here: https://t.co/YTWOz8aQii pic.twitter.com/neBBjkcfyl
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“They have made problems a lot less than they could have been,” Gary Hayward, chairman of the Broughshane Environment Wildfowl and Wildlife Trust, told BBC News NI.
Before the incident, the popular local attraction housed a population of 120 birds. The contamination forced an emergency response, during which more than 20 birds were transferred to the headquarters of the USPCA for specialized urgent care. Organizations reported that geese, ducks, and swans required washing and medical treatment due to heavy contamination, though several birds unfortunately succumbed after ingesting toxic amounts of the oil.
Recovery efforts continue after an oil spill caused by the vandalism of a nearby home heating oil tank resulted in the death of 13 birds from Broughshane Waterfowl Park. https://t.co/S3xCxgHvLc
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Although the park has officially reopened to visitors, cleanup and recovery efforts continue. Social media updates from The Waterfowl Pond indicated that remediation work is still proceeding and that certain pens remain off-limits to the public. Hayward explained that once remaining traces of oil around the edges of the enclosures are fully cleared, additional birds will be returned to those areas.
Approximately 10 to 12 birds have safely returned to their enclosures so far, including Nenes and two black swans. Hayward expressed relief over their condition, noting that the returning animals are fortunate to remain healthy.
Park organizers expressed deep appreciation for the assistance provided by the public and animal welfare organizations throughout the crisis. In a public statement, representatives thanked the USPCA for their vital role in rehabilitating the affected animals, emphasizing that the park could not have reached this milestone without community backing.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials report that investigations into the vandalism remain active. Police have urged anyone possessing relevant information about the damaged heating oil tank to contact authorities.
Vandalized Oil Tank Spills Kerosene into Broughshane Waterfowl Park, Killing 13 Birds – EnviroLink Network – https://t.co/PHMq8cBvS3 pic.twitter.com/oIYKgCIBqB
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