The BP oil spill has killed and will continue to kill countless animals. A biologist in Florida is creating a modern-day Noah’s Ark in order to help some of them survive.
The Gulf oil disaster is having a massive impact on wildlife, with waves of animal deaths continuing into the foreseeable future thanks to both the oil and toxic clean-up methods. The disaster is so great that the extinction of some species is not an outlandish possibility, so it seems like a good idea to create a sanctuary elsewhere for the species who call the gulf home until the oil can be cleaned up. Naturalist Jack Rudloe has started just such a haven at his home in Tallahassee, building a Noah’s Ark-style preserve for everything from crabs and sharks to starfish and shrimp, hoping to keep members of as many species as possible safe until they can return to their natural habitat.
According to Yahoo, 67-year-old Rudloe, an expert on the Gulf marine habitats and well-known among marine biologists, has created Operation Noah’s Ark on his four-acre facility just south of Tallahassee and about 20 miles from the easternmost point where oil was reported on the panhandle of Florida. Over 350 species are setting up camp on his preserve, which even includes a grassland and area that duplicates high and low tides.
Rudloe hopes BP will fund the $1.2 million project, but hasn’t heard back from them on that yet — (no surprise).
A water-oil separator worth $25,000 has come through, however, from Pennsylvania-based Martin Marine. Rudloe says this is an invaluable device needed for sifting out petrochemicals from his water systems.
Check out the videos above and below for a tour and a little more on the project.