Ecobreves – ARGENTINA: To the Rescue of Stranded Marine Animals

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

BUENOS AIRES, Apr 19 2010 (IPS) - Argentine environmental activists and officials have united to help marine animals that are in situations of risk along the coast of the province of Buenos Aires. Germán Larrán, director of natural resources of the provincial agency for sustainable development, told Tierramérica that “the objective is for the animals that have been stranded to return to their habitat as soon as possible.”

The network will help sea lions, dolphins, sea turtles, and birds, including penguins. These species can be affected by oil spills, fishing nets, or other traumas that strand them on the shore.

Until now, the work was carried out ad hoc and often by volunteers from different organizations. “The government did not participate in a systematic way, but now it will help rescue, rehabilitate and reintroduce the animals into their habitat,” Larrán said.