On June 23, 2000, an ecological disaster occurred when the ore carrier MV Treasure sank off the coast of South Africa between Dassen and Robben Islands near Cape Town which supported two of the largest colonies of the African Penguin (Spheniscus demerus) in the world. Tens of thousands of penguins were in danger of dying from the oil that was surrounding their breeding beaches. A cry went out worldwide to zoos and aquariums for assistance. They sought the expertise of these facilities to help deal with this disaster. The Aquarium of the Pacific responded to the call by sending their aviculturist Karen Anderson.