South Africa: Latest science confirms plummeting penguin population’Critically endangered’

On June 23, 2000, when – like now – Cape Town was in the icy grip of mid-winter, South Africa suffered what was called the world’s worst coastal seabird environmental disaster.

That was the day when the fully laden ore-carrier MV Treasure broke up and sank about 8km north of Robben Island while a salvage tug was attempting to tow it to safety.

The stricken vessel spilled more than 1,100 tons of highly toxic heavy fuel oil into the ocean, covering with oil tens of thousands of…