But Cape Nature spokeswoman Aletta Jordaan said the crisis was the worst to hit the colony on Dassen Island, home to about one-fifth of the world's African penguins, also known as jackass penguins. By then we will have got one-third of the breeding birds off the island. The damage to the penguins is much worse than damage from a larger 1994 Apollo Sea spill because an abnormally calm winter has prevented the slick from breaking up. Once the penguins are cleaned and checked out, they will be taken to Port Elizabeth and released. It will take them about three weeks for them to swim back to Dassen Island.
Authorities hope to have the spill cleaned up by then.
Correspondent Michael Skinner and Reuters contributed to this report. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines .