The exact number of animals affected by the Gulf oil spill is difficult to determine, as many animals may have been killed or injured without being recovered or counted. However, it is estimated that millions of animals were affected, including:
- Fish: An estimated 11,000 barrels of oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico each day during the spill, which covered an area of over 100,000 square miles. This oil killed an estimated 1 million fish, including tuna, swordfish, and marlin.
- Birds: An estimated 100,000 birds were killed by the oil spill, including pelicans, brown pelicans, and laughing gulls. Many of these birds were found coated in oil, and they died from hypothermia, starvation, or drowning.
- Marine mammals: An estimated 1,300 marine mammals were killed by the oil spill, including dolphins, whales, and sea turtles. Many of these animals were found with oil in their lungs or stomachs, and they died from respiratory failure or starvation.
In addition to these animals, the oil spill also affected other wildlife, including crabs, shrimp, oysters, and other invertebrates. The oil spill also caused damage to coastal habitats, such as wetlands, mangroves, and coral reefs.
The Gulf oil spill was a major environmental disaster, and it had a significant impact on the wildlife of the Gulf of Mexico. The full extent of the damage may never be known, but it is clear that the spill had a devastating impact on the animals that live in the Gulf.