An Italian ship carrying 400,000 gallons of diesel and fuel oil as well as highly toxic chemicals grounded yesterday just off a park in South Africa that is home to rare birds, fish, turtles, and plants. A fire has been raging on the Jolly Rubino for days, and the ship has come to rest seven miles south of the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park’s main estuary. Oil is reportedly spilling out of the boat, which is in danger of breaking apart and whose crew has been evacuated. The United Nations named the park a World Heritage site in 2000.
