You can make a difference in your community. We can help!Disaster in the Gulf
On April 20, catastrophe struck the Gulf of Mexico with the explosion and sinking of BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig. The disaster killed 11 crew members and left many others injured.
But the environmental destruction is only beginning. Remnants of the rig are releasing at least 100,000 barrels of toxic oil into the Gulf every day. This is the worst offshore oil disaster in our nation's history—far worse than the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. At least 31 essential national wildlife refuges and 400 species of wildlife, including sperm whales, sea turtles, brown pelicans and coral reefs, are already seriously threatened. The number of animals found dead, covered in the toxic sludge, is growing every day.
What Defenders is Doing |
What You Can Do |
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Within 24 hours of the blowout, key Defenders experts began responding to the disaster. Our efforts are focused on:
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The heartbreaking images of oiled wildlife and habitats seem to be never ending and can lead people to feel helpless in the middle of this tragedy. But there are many important ways each of us can help make a difference, from telling policy makers to put an end to dangerous offshore drilling to reducing our own use of petroleum-based products. |
| Learn more about what we're doing now. >> | Get more ideas on how to help. >> |
Additional Resources
Defenders of Wildlife Blog
The latest news on the oil spill, including on-the-ground video reports of the catastrophe and our oiled wildlife ticker, updated daily with the latest number of animals confirmed dead due to the oil spill.
Offshore Drilling and Wildlife Fact Sheets
Learn how a wide range of species and habitats, such as sea turtles, brown pelicans, sperm whales, and coral reefs can be seriously harmed by offshore drilling.
National Academies Study Proposal
Read this proposal from the National Academies to study the impact of the Gulf oil spill on ecosystem services.
Areas at Risk
Download the map below to see which national wildlife refuges are located in the Gulf and stand in the potential path of the oil spill.
