Due to cyclone michaung (december 3-4 ) triggered rains and resultant floods here, oil spillage surfaced in the ennore creek in north chennai. oil mixed with flood water and it spread further reaching the creek area, affecting fishing villages, coastal neighbourhoods and birds including pelicans. the oil spill originated from north chennai, where the chennai petroleum corporation's refinery is located.

Two more spot-billed pelicans, adversely affected by the oil spill in Ennore, were rescued from the estuary and brought to the Guindy National Park for treatment. The birds are being attended by vets from Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary (BMAD) and the Forest Department.

Vets at the Besant Nagar Memorial Dispensary clean oil stains from a Pelican rescued from the oil spillage area in Ennore creek. Jointly rescued by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and BMAD the Pelican is doing fine. Team is on ground continuously to look for affected birds.

The team comprising Wildlife Trust of India’s NVK Ashraf, BMAD, Forest Department, and locals who are carrying out rescue efforts had earlier rescued one pelican heavily drenched in oil. The pelican was cleaned, fed and is said to be doing better.



“A total of more than 2,000 birds were spotted today, and the bird population is returning back to the creek with oil reducing on surface water. Other water areas such as Pallikaranai, Adyar creek are being continuously monitored,” the Forest Department said in a statement.


It has been estimated that over 50 pelicans and other birds have died as a result of the oil spill. While the rescue operation to capture oil-affected birds will continue for the next few days, the wildlife team found that the number of heavily impacted birds has come down from around 70 to 20 based on a survey on Tuesday. The team will also scout around for birds that flew away from Ennore after the oil spill and spotted at Pallikaranai and Cooum.