Oil-soaked and miserable, “Goldie” the “GNLD penguin,” waits to be cleaned.	GNLD Africa Marketing Director Wayne Staples helps a volunteer wash Goldie in a tub of warm water and LDC.	A shiny Goldie waits for his turn in the “rinse cycle.” Regaining his “waterproofing” is the last stage of the hour-long cleaning process.	Blending in with the crowd: Goldie, tagged and fed, rejoins hundreds of other newly-washed birds. Goldie was the 100th bird cleaned that day.

Cape Town, South Africa —

Generous GNLD-Africa distributors, staff and the company came to the rescue of approximately 25,000 oil-soaked African penguins by donating more than U.S.$20,000 (R110,000) worth of Light Duty Concentrate (LDC) to assist in a massive penguin cleanup operation. An iron-ore carrier, the Treasure, sank outside Table Bay, Cape Town, South Africa in July 2000. GNLD’s LDC was the only detergent product that could successfully remove the thick crude oil from the tens of thousands of affected penguins from Dassen and Robben Islands. “Buy a litre of LDC and save a penguin” was the appeal made by GNLD to distributors, many of whom had already made personal donations. At press time, thousands of litres of LDC had been donated by concerned distributors, customers, other companies and individuals, and GNLD staff. GNLD originally responded to an urgent appeal from the organization coordinating the operation for an emergency consignment of LDC by donating over U.S.$10,000 (R60,000) worth of product, and when the scale of the disaster became apparent, the appeal was extended to GNLD distributors — many of whom had already responded on their own.

GNLD-sponsored marathon runner Donovan Wright with 300 containers of LDC.

Dozens of volunteers took part in the largest wildlife rescue operation in history.

Volunteers proudly display a GNLD banner after the arrival of the crucial LDC delivery!

Huge undertaking
The cleanup operation is the largest wildlife rescue operation in history. A huge contingent of international volunteers from as far as the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia assisted in the cleanup effort, and the feeling was definitely that this is an international crisis which affects the entire world.

Why LDC? LDC Light Duty Concentrate is a low-dose, low-burden, pH-neutral household detergent which is particularly effective in dispersing fats and oils. LDC did not yield harsh or negative side effects on the already distraught animals.

Saving lives
The birds were first sprayed with a light mixture of vegetable oil and ethanol alcohol to loosen the crude oil before being thoroughly washed at least seven or eight times in buckets of LDC and warm water. After repeated washings with LDC, the penguins were rinsed thoroughly until their feathers regained their natural waterproofing, allowing the birds to be released back into the ocean within a week or two. The thick crude oil affects the bird's buoyancy and insulation, and if ingested, is toxic to the birds. A researcher at the University of Cape Town, who has conducted extensive research on the survival rate of cleaned penguins, said that the rescued birds will enjoy almost exactly the same lifespan as birds which have never been victims of an oil spill. Sarah Scarth, coordinator for the World-Wide Emergency Relief International Fund for Animal Welfare, said, “Without this incredible product, 25,000 penguins could have died. Thank you, GNLD, for your generous support during this environmental disaster!”