image sourced from original article at An oil spill has reached the protected shores of Shidvar Island in the Persian Gulf, coating its white sand beaches and turquoise waters with dark ribbons of tar. Verified videos show birds, sea turtles and crabs trapped in thick mounds of oil along the coastline of the uninhabited sanctuary.
Shidvar is one of Iran's most important nature reserves, home to extensive coral reefs and a breeding ground for more than 80,000 birds. Often described as the 'Maldives of Iran,' the island is known for its biodiversity and fragile ecosystem.
The footage offers some of the first clear evidence of environmental damage linked to the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States and Israel. In one video, smoke rises from a nearby refinery on Lavan Island as a boat moves through oil-darkened waters, underscoring the growing ecological toll in the region.
