Emaciated Guadalupe Fur Seal Rescued Near Vancouver Island Has Died

Summary: An emaciated Guadalupe fur seal rescued Jan. 21, near Vancouver Island has died, according to Vancouver Aquarium's Facebook posting Thursday, Jan. 28.

An emaciated Guadalupe fur seal rescued near Vancouver Island was far from home in tropical waters off Southern California and Mexico: Vancouver Aquarium @vanaqua, via Facebook Jan. 28, 2016

On Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, British Columbia’s Vancouver Aquarium announced via Facebook that the emaciated Guadalupe fur seal rescued Thursday, Jan. 21, near Vancouver Island died at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre Wednesday, Jan. 27, less than one week after rescue.

“Some sad news to share, despite 24-hour critical care by the veterinary team at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre, an emaciated and out-of-its-range Guadalupe fur seal rescued on January 21 succumbed to his injuries yesterday,” the Vancouver Aquarium stated in its Facebook posting Thursday, Jan. 28.

First spotted Tuesday, Jan. 19, the far-from-home Guadalupe fur seal swam away from a rescue attempt Wednesday, Jan. 20. On Thursday, Jan. 21, the emaciated Guadalupe fur seal was spotted on a beach within the Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island’s southwest coast.

Vancouver Aquarium research associate Wendy Szaniszlo and officers from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and from Parks Canada corralled the emaciated Guadalupe fur seal into a kennel and transported him to Port Alberni, on the island’s southeast coast. The emaciated adult male seal then was ferried with a team from the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre across the Salish Sea to the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre.

The Guadalupe fur seal was admitted in critical condition to the Rescue Centre in the early morning hours, Friday, Jan. 22. His treatment upon admittance emphasized antibiotics, gastric protectants and subcutaneous fluids.

Dr. Martin Haulena, head veterinarian at the Vancouver Aquarium, described his emaciated patient’s condition on admission day: “Although he is very lethargic and has no interest in food at this time, he’s responsive and aware of his surroundings.”

Guadalupe Fur Seal Range Map: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service/Office of Protected Resources, Public Domain, via NOAA Fisheries

Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus townsendi) live in the tropical waters off Southern California and Mexico. Breeding season runs from June through August and finds the seals almost entirely claiming Baja California’s Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe) as their major breeding ground. Mexico designated the island as a nature preserve in 1925 and as a pinniped (Latin: pinna “fin” + pes “foot”), or seal, sanctuary in 1975.

The Guadalupe fur seal has been listed as threatened throughout its range since Dec. 16, 1985, under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1975. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972 designates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the responsible agency for conservation and management of cetaceans and pinnipeds, including the Guadalupe fur sea. The Marine Mammal Protection Act extends automatic protection to all marine mammals.

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service identifies Guadalupe fur seals as primarily night feeders. The threatened species is known to dive to depths of 65 feet (20 meters) in pursuit of their main prey: lanternfish, mackerel and squid.

NOAA has noted an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) of increased strandings of Guadalupe fur seals beginning in January 2015. Strandings in 2015 peaked at eight times the historical average.

El Niño-warmed waters are the likely prompts for the emaciated Guadalupe fur seal journeying far north of his normal range.

“Despite the animal’s poor condition at the time of his rescue, this rescue was a worthwhile effort. Even if the odds of survival are slim, we’re always going to do our best to try and save an animal’s life,” the Vancouver Aquarium explained in their obituary for the emaciated Guadalupe fur seal.

rescued Guadalupe fur seal resting near a small pool at Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre (VAMMRC): Vancouver Aquarium @vanaqua, via Twitter Jan. 22, 2016

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

An emaciated Guadalupe fur seal rescued near Vancouver Island was far from home in tropical waters off Southern California and Mexico: Vancouver Aquarium @vanaqua, via Facebook Jan. 28, 2016, @ https://www.facebook.com/vanaqua/photos/a.488362465799.267595.7881420799/10153233387690800/

Guadalupe Fur Seal Range Map: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service/Office of Protected Resources, Public Domain, via NOAA Fisheries @ http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/seals/guadalupe-fur-seal.html

rescued Guadalupe fur seal resting near a small pool at Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre (VAMMRC): Vancouver Aquarium @vanaqua, via Twitter Jan. 22, 2016, @ https://twitter.com/vanaqua/status/690667474723934208

For further information:

"Fur seal rescued off Vancouver Island dies." CBCNews > Canada > British Columbia > Photo Galleries. Jan. 28, 2016.
Available @ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/guadalupefurseal-threatened-rescued-dies-1.3424109

"Guadalupe Fur Seal (Arctocephalus townsendi)." NOAA Fisheries > Protected Resources > Species.
Available @ http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/seals/guadalupe-fur-seal.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Hypothermic Green Sea Turtle Beached in British Columbia Far From Home." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/01/hypothermic-green-sea-turtle-beached-in.html

"Rare Guadalupe Fur Seal Saved in Joint Rescue." AquaBlog. Jan. 22, 2016.
Available @ http://www.aquablog.ca/2016/01/rare-guadalupe-fur-seal-saved-in-joint-rescue/

Vancouver Aquarium @vanaqua. "Rare Guadalupe Fur Seal Saved in Rescue in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve." Twitter. Jan. 22, 2016.
Available @ https://twitter.com/vanaqua/status/690667474723934208

Vancouver Aquarium @vanaqua. "Some sad news to share, despite 24-hour critical care by the veterinary team at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre, an emaciated and out-of-its-range Guadalupe fur seal rescued on January 21 succumbed to his injuries yesterday." Facebook. Jan. 28, 2016.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/vanaqua/photos/a.488362465799.267595.7881420799/10153233387690800/