"NGOs have reported turtles and birds covered in oil," reports the BBC, while an autopsy conducted on a 55-feet-long fin whale that was discovered dead on a beach in southern Israel has revealed that the creature died with tar deposits in its system. "They all got here with a coat of tar on their heads, and in their eyes, nostrils, mouth, digestive system and stomach," the center's founder, Yaniv Levy, told Haaretz (per the BBC). "With this kind of damage they have no chance to survive without treatment. We removed the tar from their nostrils and eyes so they could breathe and see."
Besides the tar covering the surface of the wildlife, many animals have also ingested the substance, which binds and clogs their digestive systems. At the National Sea Turtle Rescue Center, veterinarians are treating dozens of the tiny creatures, with the use of a surprising miracle cure: mayonnaise. According to a February 23 report by the Associated Press, the condiment works to break down the tar and flush out the animals' clogged digestive systems — a life-saving intervention.
As Smithsonian explains, lecithin in mayo's egg yolks "creates a barrier between the tar and the turtle's digestive tract." The chemical interaction between the mayo's ingredients and the tar within the animals makes the crude oil "less sticky," much the way dish soap cleans greasy dishes. As a result, the animals can pass the oil as part of their normal digestive processes.
