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Rescue for birds covered in 'wax' in the south west Rescue for birds covered in 'wax' in the south west
(35 minutes later)
Hundreds of seabirds - some dead - have been washed up along England's south west coast, covered in a white waxy substance. Hundreds of seabirds - some dead - have been washed up along England's south west coast, covered in a white waxy, greasy substance.
The RSPB confirmed more than 100 birds had been rescued and taken to the West Hatch Animal Centre in Taunton.The RSPB confirmed more than 100 birds had been rescued and taken to the West Hatch Animal Centre in Taunton.
Many were found at Chesil Cove near Weymouth but others are appearing up to 200 miles away in Cornwall.Many were found at Chesil Cove near Weymouth but others are appearing up to 200 miles away in Cornwall.
Some birds, which include guillemots, have died but rescuers are trying to save others. Some birds, which are mainly guillemots, have died but rescuers are trying to save others.
Martin Case, warden of Portland Bird Observatory, said "hundreds of birds" were being washed up. Martin Case, warden of Portland Bird Observatory, said "hundreds of birds" were being washed up covered in a "PVA glue-type" substance.
Cleaning 'not working'Cleaning 'not working'
He said: "Most of them aren't dead, and if they get cleaned up by the RSPCA, they have a have a chance of survival."He said: "Most of them aren't dead, and if they get cleaned up by the RSPCA, they have a have a chance of survival."
But it is not yet known what the substance is and the RSPCA said its cleaning techniques, normally used to remove oil, were "not working". But it is not yet known what the substance is and the RSPCA said the birds were "not responding well" to the cleaning techniques, normally used to remove oil.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "We have received reports of seabirds being washed ashore covered in a white waxy substance, from Cornwall to Portland, Dorset. The charity said a majority of the birds were found around Portland, Dorset, covered in "greasy film" and suffering from very sore legs.
Peter Venn, manager at West Hatch, said: "The numbers of birds arriving in to our centre are growing and we are doing all we can to help them - but it is too early to tell how successful these attempts will be.
"We do not know what this substance is or where it has come from yet, but we do know it is not fuel.
"It may be bi-product from manufacture, but at this stage we just do not know.
"There are also reports of the sticky substance washing up on the beach, so we would urge people walking their dogs in the area to also be careful."
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said: "We have received reports of seabirds being washed ashore covered in a white waxy substance, from Cornwall to Portland, Dorset.
"We are liaising with the RSPB, RSPCA and Natural England to find out the extent of the problem, and if at all possible, to determine the source.""We are liaising with the RSPB, RSPCA and Natural England to find out the extent of the problem, and if at all possible, to determine the source."
The MCA has taken a sample of the substance, which is being analysed.
Tony Whitehead, from the RSPB, said: "We're not just dealing with a bird rescue operation here, it's also a pollution incident.Tony Whitehead, from the RSPB, said: "We're not just dealing with a bird rescue operation here, it's also a pollution incident.
"We have had a few dead birds washed up over the past few weeks, but not this many."We have had a few dead birds washed up over the past few weeks, but not this many.
"More being washed up could be a result of a change in wind directions.""More being washed up could be a result of a change in wind directions."
A spokeswoman for Dorset Wildlife Trust said the substance had been described as a white "glue-like" substance. A spokeswoman for Dorset Wildlife Trust urged people not to attempt to rescue any washed up birds but to alert the RSPCA.
She urged people not to attempt to rescue any washed up birds but to alert the RSPCA.
She said: "Just picking up the birds from the sea is dangerous, then when you add the weather conditions and waves it becomes very dangerous."She said: "Just picking up the birds from the sea is dangerous, then when you add the weather conditions and waves it becomes very dangerous."
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