Most countries of the world and nearly all countries with a coastline, live under the constant threat of marine disasters along or off their shores.

Such disasters can be in the form of oil spills from offshore exploration and drilling activities, shipwrecks where oil, toxic chemicals and other undesirable components are released into the sea, or onshore disasters resulting in the carrying of toxic chemicals and waste down rivers to the sea.

Whatever the disaster, the impact on the environment is usually severe and can be devastating particularly to the wildlife that inhabit the impacted eco-systems. 

It is therefore necessary that environmental and wildlife rescue operations are mobilized as soon as possible in order to contain the event and minimize the impact. Wild sea birds are particularly vulnerable to damage as they rely on the sea for their food, live in and out of the sea and travel over long distances.

It is also necessary to have resources able to regularly monitor and recognize distressed, injured or ill sea birds and rescue them wherever possible. They not only need to be removed from the public's eye as soon as possible, but with sophisticated rehabilitation centres and animal care, the majority of them can be saved and rehabilitated if treated soon enough.

This short course consists of 2 short videos, a PowerPoint Presentation and some Course Notes, and a final multichoice Quiz. A final Practical Assignment is necessary to be completed as evidence that you have satisfactorily attended some field work under supervision of experienced rescue personnel.

A Certificate of Completion is issued only when finished all parts of the Course