Guadalupe fur seals seem to be next on the list, as record numbers of these mammals are being washed up on shore along the California coast. #california #Guadalupefurseals #dieoff - http://clapway.com/2015/10/02/guadalupe-fur-seals-cali-coast213/

Massive die-offs are seemingly becoming more common due to the unfortunate consequences of climate change. Thousands of animals are suffering as a result: polar bears are starving, walruses are taking refuge on land and entire saiga antelope populations are being wiped out. In an ever-growing list, Guadalupe fur seals are now falling victim to the same fate, as record numbers of this mammal are being washed up along the California coast.

GUADALUPE FUR SEALS ARE QUICKLY DYING OFF

As of January 2015, 90 Guadalupe fur seals, characterized by their flat heads and long, narrow snouts, have already been found stranded in California; of this number, 42 have died, 16 were rehabilitated and 38 have yet to be released back into the wild. Although they are almost exclusive to the Guadalupe Island in Mexico, they have been found washing up on the shores of California beaches, mostly likely due to the unusually warm ocean temperatures, which could be pushing fish populations up north.

“We think that warm water conditions have really changed the range of quite a few of the forage fish species that the fur seals would be going after,” said Toby Garfield, director of environmental research with NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center.

The seals were found in various stages of emaciation and according to the Marine Mammal Center – the nonprofit research hospital and educational center dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of ill and injured marine mammals – this incident marks the biggest mortality event for the species in more than three decades. In comparison, based on reports from 1984 to 2014, around 12 or so fur seals become stranded every year.

SAVING THE GUADALUPE FUR SEALS

In lieu of the die-off, the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) has issue a warning, prompting oceanographers and animal conservationists to search for answers. The call to action is especially of importance, as water conditions may increasingly get worse as Ell Niño strikes. Currently the population of Guadalupe fur seals is estimated to be around 15,000; the species is considered “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act.

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THESE MASSIVE ANIMAL DIE-OFFS URGE US TO TAKE ACTION NOW TO PRESERVE NATURE AS WE KNOW IT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD63kwQuZ2I

Die Off Of Guadalupe Fur Seals Along Cali Coast

What is causing the #Saiga #antelope to #dieoff? The mystery continues. - http://clapway.com/2015/09/06/saiga-antelope-die-off123/

News about the critically endangered Saiga antelope species made headlines, when roughly half of the world’s population died in Kazakhstan earlier this year. The mass die-off claimed the lives of 60,000 of these deer-like animals in just four days; by June, the total rose to roughly 130,000.

SAIGA ANTELOPE

According to The Examiner, die-offs do occasionally occur in nature, but the severity of this particular incident is extremely rare.

‘I have worked in veterinary diseases all my career and I have never seen 100 per cent mortality,” stated Professor Richard Kock, who was part of the investigative team that went to Kazakhstan.

Since June, horrified scientists and conservationists have examined the event in further detail. A group of researchers were already positioned at the location, allowing them to analyze the behavior of the antelope and gather samples of water, soil and vegetation. Furthermore, necropsies of the animals were conducted, according to NBC News.

WHAT CAUSED THE SAIGA ANTELOPE TO DIE OFF?

Females of the herd, along with their young, seemed to be more devastatingly impacted by the die-off, which suggests that the bacteria might have been transmitted via mother’s milk. Toxins related to Pasteurella and Clostridia bacteria, which can cause internal bleeding, were also found in the necropsies.

Strangely enough, these bacteria are not foreign to the species and they do not usually cause harm unless the animals have weakened immune systems to begin with. Even if the bacteria are to blame, the rate of this particular incident is still inexplicable.

Steffen Zuther, a geoecologist and coordinator of the Atlyn Dala Conservation Initiative, told Live Science:

‘It’s really unheard of. The question is why it developed so rapidly and spread to all the animals.’

For now, scientists believe that a bitter cold winter and a damp spring might have created the ideal environment for bacteria to multiply and spread. However, just like in the case of the toxins, these weather conditions are not particularly uncommon either. As such, scientists and conservationists are continuing to investigate the deaths until a convincing conclusion is reached.

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Keep your eye on nature with the Atmoph window:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD63kwQuZ2I

New Clues Emerge About Saiga Antelope Die Off

#Alaska met with a mysterious 30 #DeadWhales - http://clapway.com/2015/08/23/30-whales-mysteriously-dead-in-alaska-343/

Thirty dead whales were found washed ashore along Alaska’s southern coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) started investigating the case, looking for answers.

AN “UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT”

The federal government released an announcement on Thursday calling the matter an “unusual mortality event,” which is defined by the Marine Mammal Protection Act as animals that are stranded in an unexpected manner with the significant die-off of any marine mammal population that demands immediate response and action.

Related Post: Too Many Whale Deaths

The first mysterious whale death in Alaska was observed in May this year and, in total, 11 fin whales, 14 humpback whales, 1 lone grey whale and 4 other unidentified have been discovered in the last four months. The dead bodies have been washing up in along Western Alaska’s shores, such as Agognak Island, Kodial Island, the Semidi Islands and the Chirikof Island and scientists have already launched investigations in the areas of interest to uncover the mystery.

WHAT CAUSED THE WHALES’ DEATH?

While Julie Speegle from NOAA told The Guardian that their theory is that the harmful algal bloom has led the whales to their deaths, Teri Rowles says that the only one sample that has been taken from one of the whales revealed that that it was negative for domoic acid. Domoic acid is a toxin produced by algae, but since the samples are already beyond decomposition, the results may not be as definitive.

Rowles, who is the coordinator of the Fisheries Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response program, notes that the exact cause of the deaths will be determined after we obtain helpful data about the total state of the whales’ health and the environment they belong to.

Related Post: Sumatran Rhinos Extinct from Malaysia

In addition, another factor causing delay is the location itself. Bree Witteveen, a marine mammal specialist and lead investigator, says that acquiring samples from the dead whales is quite challenging due to Alaska’s massive, uninhabited and inaccessible coastline.

WHEN WILL WE GET SOME ANSWERS?

The investigation could take months or even years and the results may not lead to a conclusion. However, researchers are collecting water samples to search for any harmful substance or possible changes in water temperature, and they have been studying at least one species of seabird.

Related Post: An Endangered Bird Threatened by ISIS

The common mure has also been reported suffering a die-off in June, “in unusual numbers” and with “many appearing weak” in Alaska, and scientists do not know yet whether the bird deaths were related to the deaths of the whales.

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If you missed it, Clapway’s News in Review presented by Brandi and Samsung:

30 Whales Mysteriously Dead in Alaska