The rescue operation was a tremendous human effort. More than 1,000 volunteers were needed on a daily basis to care for the oiled birds. Amazingly, hundreds of people turned out to help from all over the world. Many took weeks off work and gave up precious vacation hours just to kneel in guano and scrub penguins all day. Their dedication paid off. The operation turned out to be the largest and most successful seabird rescues in history. Of the 38,000 adult birds handled, more than 90 percent survived.