Y2K??? We may never know......

JANUARY 02, 21:43 EST

Oil Slick Ravishes Small Penguins

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  Wildlife officers Monday were trying to save more than 100 fairy penguins covered in thick black oil from a slick that washed up on an island off Australia's southeast corner.

Ray Leivers, general manager of the Phillip Island Nature Park, said six penguins had died so far and another 110 were being treated at an animal hospital.

The birds, named ``fairy penguins'' because they stand only a few inches high, have been washed and placed in specially made woolen sweaters to stop them from preening their contaminated feathers and ingesting toxic oil.

Officers and environmentalists fear more birds will be affected when they try to swim out to sea to collect fish to feed their chicks on shore, he said. Many chicks could starve to death if their parents died.

A large seal colony was also at risk from the oil slick that partially washed up on Phillip Island, about 60 miles south of Melbourne, during the weekend.

The Victorian state government said the oil appears to have been dumped by an unidentified ship some days ago.

Leivers said the slick missed the island's main penguin habitat site where there are thousands of nests.

LINK

-- Jim Bob (vibratomachina@aol.com), January 03, 2000

Answers

It's quite difficult to 'ravish' fairy penguins, although some people might relish an opportunity to do so.

As for that ship dumping its bilges and oil junk over sensitive natural wonderlands here in Australia? Words fail. Maybe a bit of similar 'ravishing' to them would deter others that pollute our beautiful southern ocean and beaches.

Compliments to the forum participants for continuing to be 'ravihingly' good sports.

Regards from Down Under.

-- Pieter (zaadz@icisp.net.au), January 03, 2000.

Yeah, I thought you Bruces specialised in sheep :o)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), January 03, 2000.

I knew a bloke of quality and deportment, a pom, who claimed to have conquered a flock of sheep. He migrated via New Zealand where he possibly picked up a taste for such erotica.

Sludging our fairy penguins with bilge oil for 'ravishing' purposes does raise an eyebrow though, even if it's in Victoria.

Regards to Andy et al

-- Pieter (zaadz@icisp.net.au), January 03, 2000.

Hi Pieter,

Is it true that all Kiwis wear wellies and the islands have cliffs all around them :o)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), January 03, 2000.

To encircle New Zealand with cliffs seems a rather extravagant solution to our lob-sided oneway migration arrangements, Andy. However Australians are fond of New Zealanders, even if they bring their wellinton boots before adopting a more appropriate sense of undress replete with thongs.

New Zealand women are 'ravishingly' beautiful too.

BTW Contacts over from Kangaroo Island say their entire electrical system went and mobile generators took over. It was anticipated to topple over so contingencies were in place. The alternative lifestylers didn't notice though.

Meanwhile, the Adelaideans say all's well, but my y2k webpage javascript ticked over to show the year as 201900....hehehe.

Regards from the deep South

-- Pieter (zaadz@icisp.net.au), January 03, 2000.

Yes they are ravishingly beautiful as are the Oz women (esp. La Femme Nikita - Peta, Mmmmm mmmmmm)...

Coupla sheep jokes... wellies... and cliffs... say no more :o)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), January 03, 2000.