Enhancing Wildlife Response Through Tier 3 Integration in Large-Scale Oil Spill Exercises: Lessons from Africa

In recent years, the energy sector has seen a growing focus on wildlife response as part of oil spill preparedness programmes. This is driven by increasing scrutiny from regulators and authorities in some countries, as well as heightened focus and concern for the environment from society at large. Yet, in regions with limited wildlife response capabilities, such as many African nations, there  are often substantial gaps between oil spill preparedness and wildlife response preparedness. Without robust wildlife response plans, these regions face significant challenges in mounting effective responses to oiled wildlife incidents. 

One way to identify gaps and build momentum for preparedness efforts is through collaborative exercises that go beyond box-ticking. When Tier 3 wildlife experts are involved in designing these exercises from the outset, it allows for meaningful evaluation of risks, capabilities, and opportunities. This approach ensures that future wildlife preparedness efforts are grounded in real-world scenarios and contribute directly to response strategies.  

In this article, we explore the recent Exercise Giant Black Sable in Angola, which included a Tier 3 wildlife response component. This exercise provides an example of how operators, authorities, and wildlife experts can work together to strengthen wildlife response capabilities. We aim to inspire operators and stakeholders worldwide to prioritise wildlife preparedness as part of holistic oil spill planning.

Many regions, particularly in Africa, face significant challenges in preparing for oiled wildlife incidents. Wildlife preparedness capability often lags behind oil spill response skills due to inadequate resources, regulatory frameworks, and trained personnel. This lag creates a reliance on Tier 3 experts like OSRL’s partners Sea Alarm and the Global Oiled Wildlife Response System (GOWRS). These experts can assess local conditions, mobilise quickly, and provide strategic advice based on international best practices.  

The role of Tier 3 wildlife responders is particularly crucial in regions where local wildlife response capabilities are limited or non-existent. Their interventions focus on the initial assessment phase, where they evaluate the feasibility of a wildlife response, identify local resources, and determine gaps that need to be addressed. This assessment is vital in shaping realistic and actionable response plans for operators and governments alike. However, the ability to implement effective wildlife response strategies relies heavily on pre-planning efforts and the presence of trained, local response capability and infrastructure.

In May 2023, ExxonMobil led Exercise Giant Black Sable in Angola, aiming to test its Regional Response Team’s ability to manage a large-scale Tier 3 oil spill incident. Given Angola’s limited preparedness for a wildlife incident, the idea to include a wildlife response component presented a unique opportunity to explore how Tier 3 experts could support a real-world response in a challenging environment. 

The objectives were clear: assess local wildlife risks, engage stakeholders, and determine the feasibility of mounting a wildlife response with the support of Tier 3 experts. To achieve this, ExxonMobil agreed to an in-country deployment of OSRL’s wildlife services – Technical advice from Sea Alarm and the Oiled Wildlife Assessment Service from GOWRS. The GOWRS Assessment Team conducted an in-depth field assessment in Soyo, in northern Angola. This was a first on-the-ground exercise deployment for this newly established Tier 3 wildlife service. The team evaluated wildlife vulnerabilities, existing facilities, and local resources to develop a comprehensive wildlife response plan. Meanwhile, the IMT specialist from the GOWRS Assessment Team and Sea Alarm’s Technical Advisor on-site provide support and guidance to the Incident Management Team (IMT) at the Incident Command Post in Luanda. 

Through this exercise, we identified potential local partners and resources that could be activated in a real incident, but also uncovered significant gaps that need addressing to mount a meaningful wildlife response. The integration of Tier 3 expertise ensured that the wildlife section of the Incident Action Plan (IAP) was informed by the most current data and grounded in practical, achievable goals.

Exercise Giant Black Sable reinforced the importance of involving Tier 3 wildlife experts early in the exercise design process. Their involvement enables more robust assessments of wildlife risks and resource gaps, creating opportunities for capacity building and collaboration 

Key recommendations from the exercise include: 

1. Engaging local stakeholders early: Building relationships with local authorities, NGOs, and other operators is essential for developing a wildlife response capability that can be sustained over time. 
2. Establishing wildlife response plans: Operators should prioritise creating wildlife response plans that align with international standards, ensuring preparedness for a range of wildlife incidents.
3. Creating regional partnerships: Developing regional stockpiles of wildlife response equipment and expertise can significantly reduce response times and improve outcomes in wildlife incidents.

Exercise Giant Black Sable demonstrated how a thoughtful approach to oil spill exercises can lead to meaningful wildlife preparedness outcomes, even in regions with limited local capabilities. By integrating Tier 3 wildlife experts into the planning and execution of these exercises, operators can better understand the risks and challenges they face and take proactive steps to close critical preparedness gaps. 

At OSRL, we are committed to working with our wildlife response partners to improve global wildlife response capabilities. Through collaboration, innovation, and expertise, we continue to support our members and the wider industry in ensuring that wildlife is a key consideration in every spill response.