As oil continues to seep into the Gulf of Mexico, aggressive awareness campaigns and protection efforts are vital in order to save what’s left of the delicate balance of life in the ocean.  The devastating effects of the BP oil spill on wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico can be witnessed in an exhibit at the National Mississipi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa. According to KTTC, the exhibit was originally planned to display the beauty of the Gulf, but after the April 20 Deep Water Horizon rupture it will now showcase what is perhaps the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.  The aquarium exhibit includes a 40,000 gallon tank laden with dark window stickers resembling the oil that covers aquatic life in the Gulf.  It allows visitors to face the effects of the tragedy.

The reality is that the ecosystems surrounding the Gulf may never be the same, as countless plants and animals have died or been forced from their habitats. Veterinarian news DVM 360 estimates that out of the approximately 1,812 birds that have been collected in the area, only 766 have been found alive.  Similarly, only 128 of the 539 sea turtles collected, and 5 of 52 dolphins, were reported as living.

The New York Times reports that dozens of heavily oiled sea turtles were recently found near a site where workers were burning off oil, raising the possibility that the turtles had been burned.

Good News From the Gulf

Luckily, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts shine a ray of hope over the murky depths of the Gulf.  More than 63 cleaned and rehabilitated brown pelicans were set free at Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas, which was picked due to its ideal coastal habitat for the pelicans.

Also, the Center for Biological Diversity has advised that conservation groups, BP and the Coast Guard agreed Friday (in court) that efforts will be taken to rescue sea turtles from the water’s surface before setting fire to oil slicks in the Gulf.  A shrimp boat captain noticed turtles, including the endangered Kemp’s ridleys, were being burned when fire-resistant booms were drawn together to form a “burn box” that was then burned.  Turtles were being caught in the box and killed.  Now qualified scientists and observers will attend every burn to make sure that all turtles are identified and removed before the burning starts.

Thank You and Good Luck to all the people rescuing and rehabilitating animals and cleaning up the oil.  Efforts as rapid and forceful as the leaking oil are needed.

According to Museum Publicity,  Chicago’s Field Museum’s new Climate Change exhibit showcases global climate change, likely the most urgent scientific and social issue of our century.  The exhibit explains the science of climate change while also examining the social issues that will arise with future generations if the problem is not solved.  The exhibit demonstrates that there is not just one solution – a necessary effort must be put in by individuals, communities, and governments.

The Field Museum’s exhibit on Climate Change was organized by the American Museum of Natural History  along with The Field Museum and several others, reports the Chicago Tribune.  The exhibit demonstrates how the warming climate has begun to melt polar ice, raise sea levels and alter weather patterns by warming the ocean and creating brutal storms while also changing ecosystems.  Through interactive stations, dioramas and videos, the exhibit provides evidence that over the last 300 years human activity has altered the natural world.

The Climate Change exhibit is sponsored by HSBC-North America, Exelon Corporation, Motorola Foundation, Whole Foods Market and Jones Lang LaSalle.  For every visitor to the Climate Change exhibition, Exelon Corporation will donate $1 to the exhibition up to a total of $200,000.

Also interesting, the Tree Museum recently opened in Switzerland, Inhabitat informs us.  The collection of 2,000 trees showcased at the museum has been accumulated over 17 years.  The trees have all been saved and now represent a museum of their own.  Both the Tree Museum and sustainability-built headquarters are situated on 2.5 acres of a 14th Century monastery grounds.   (Photo is of the Louvre).

The Tree Museum headquarters forms a backdrop that showcases the trees.  The building’s sustainable features include efficient insulation, a green roof, a geothermal heating and cooling system and sustainably-sourced local wood.  The trees are positioned against sandstone walls and contain 22 different varieties that range from English yew to Pinus sylvestris.

Together these museums demonstrate what museums can do to help inform people and solve major environmental and social issues.  Whether working alone or as part of a community, we all have a role to play in solving climate change and related issues.  Educational, informative and interactive, these museums have made a positive step forward.

A note to anyone heading for London’s Grant Museum of Zoology – According to Culture24, the museum will be closing for 6 months as of Wednesday June 30, 2010 and will reopen in January 2011.