The Penguin Foundation is very proud to have helped fund the development of this exciting technology that's set to revolutionise the way in which oiled wildlife (such as Little Penguins) are cleaned.

The technology, dubbed the ‘magic oil spill wand’, works when the iron powder is applied to an oiled animal and binds with the oil. A magnetic wand is then waved over the animal, drawing up the metallic powder and oil. Traditional oil spill cleaning methods rely on hot water and detergent, and wildlife is easily stressed while scrubbed clean or transported and housed in special facilities.

The technology is part of a joint research and development program being conducted by researchers at the Penguin Foundation and Professor John Orbell at Victoria University. The project has also been funded by Google Australia, receiving $250,000 as a finalist in the 2014 Google Impact Challenge and Phillip Island Nature Parks.

“The value in this technology is how it allows a quick clean in the field so the more toxic or corrosive components can be removed from the wildlife as quickly as possible,” Professor Orbell said. “This greatly enhances the animal’s survival chances after their release.”

Oil spills have a devastating effect on the environment but with the funding, the team aim to further develop the Oil Spill Wand and dramatically reduce the impact oil spills have on wildlife, including penguins, otters and even turtles. The project team hopes to make the Oil Spill Wand available to Wildlife Rescue Centres across the world within three years.