An African penguin soaked in bunker oil, attempts in vain to rid himself of the oil by preening. An oil spill following the sinking of the MV Treasure off Cape Town threatened colonies of African penguins, an endangered species. Over 40 per cent of the African penguin population lives on nearby Robben and Dassen islands. Around 12,000 volunteers from across the world joined in a rescue mission. By the end of the operation, nearly all the affected birds had been returned to the wild.

Robben Island is home to some 18,000 penguins. An oil spill following the sinking of the MV Treasure off Cape Town threatened colonies of African penguins, an endangered species. Over 40 per cent of the African penguin population lives on nearby Robben and Dassen islands. Around 12,000 volunteers from across the world joined in a rescue mission. By the end of the operation, nearly all the affected birds had been returned to the wild.

The scarred and bandaged hands of a volunteer cradle an orphaned penguin chick. An oil spill following the sinking of the MV Treasure off Cape Town threatened colonies of African penguins, an endangered species, during their breeding season. Over 40 per cent of the African penguin population lives on nearby Robben and Dassen islands. Around 12,000 volunteers from across the world joined in a rescue mission. By the end of the operation, nearly all the affected birds had been returned to the wild.

Distressed penguins are loaded into boats for transport from the island. An oil spill following the sinking of the MV Treasure off Cape Town threatened colonies of African penguins, an endangered species. Over 40 per cent of the African penguin population lives on nearby Robben and Dassen islands. Around 12,000 volunteers from across the world joined in a rescue mission. By the end of the operation, nearly all the affected birds had been returned to the wild.

Penguins arrive at a disused railway warehouse that was transformed into a rehabilitation center. An oil spill following the sinking of the MV Treasure off Cape Town threatened colonies of African penguins, an endangered species. Over 40 per cent of the African penguin population lives on nearby Robben and Dassen islands. Around 12,000 volunteers from across the world joined in a rescue mission. By the end of the operation, nearly all the affected birds had been returned to the wild.

An oil spill following the sinking of the MV Treasure off Cape Town threatened colonies of African penguins, an endangered species. Over 40 per cent of the African penguin population lives on nearby Robben and Dassen islands. Around 12,000 volunteers from across the world joined in a rescue mission. By the end of the operation, nearly all the affected birds had been returned to the wild.

Portable swimming pools were constructed in a disused railway warehouse to accommodate the oil-covered birds. An oil spill following the sinking of the MV Treasure off Cape Town threatened colonies of African penguins, an endangered species. Over 40 per cent of the African penguin population lives on nearby Robben and Dassen islands. Around 12,000 volunteers from across the world joined in a rescue mission. By the end of the operation, nearly all the affected birds had been returned to the wild.

Oil is swabbed from the inside of the penguins' mouths. An oil spill following the sinking of the MV Treasure off Cape Town threatened colonies of African penguins, an endangered species. Over 40 per cent of the African penguin population lives on nearby Robben and Dassen islands. Around 12,000 volunteers from across the world joined in a rescue mission. By the end of the operation, nearly all the affected birds had been returned to the wild.

A penguin is given a final rinse. An oil spill following the sinking of the MV Treasure off Cape Town threatened colonies of African penguins, an endangered species. Over 40 per cent of the African penguin population lives on nearby Robben and Dassen islands. Around 12,000 volunteers from across the world joined in a rescue mission. By the end of the operation, nearly all the affected birds had been returned to the wild.

Penguins shake off water after a swim, which completes the rinsing process and helps re-waterproof their plumage. An oil spill following the sinking of the MV Treasure off Cape Town threatened colonies of African penguins, an endangered species. Over 40 per cent of the African penguin population lives on nearby Robben and Dassen islands. Around 12,000 volunteers from across the world joined in a rescue mission. By the end of the operation, nearly all the affected birds had been returned to the wild.

Penguins are released bearing pink dye marks that enable researchers to monitor their progress. An oil spill following the sinking of the MV Treasure off Cape Town threatened colonies of African penguins, an endangered species. Over 40 per cent of the African penguin population lives on nearby Robben and Dassen islands. Around 12,000 volunteers from across the world joined in a rescue mission. By the end of the operation, nearly all the affected birds had been returned to the wild.

Back in the natural environment, a group of cleaned penguins heads for the ocean. An oil spill following the sinking of the MV Treasure off Cape Town threatened colonies of African penguins, an endangered species. Over 40 per cent of the African penguin population lives on nearby Robben and Dassen islands. Around 12,000 volunteers from across the world joined in a rescue mission. By the end of the operation, nearly all the affected birds had been returned to the wild.

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