DATELINE: 17 September 2002

OIL SPILL THREATENS SOUTH AFRICAN WILDLIFE

An oil spill from Jolly Rubino, a wrecked freighter is threatening wildlife at South Africa's north eastern dive sites, close to St Lucia estuary.
The wetlands area of the St Lucia estuary is a World Heritage site, and the reefs are popular with scuba divers. So far favourable wind direction has kept most of the spilled oil away from the wetlands, but the possibility of further oil being spilled is causing great concern.
Leatherback turtles are due to arrive in the next few weeks to lay eggs. Dolphins have been seen swimming through the slick, and migrating whales are likely to encounter the pollution if it is not cleared shortly.
Salvage attempts on the wreck are underway. Meanwhile a container of fridges that washed ashore has been unofficially salvaged by local people.