Bird flu has made its way into fur and elephant seal populations for the first time on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, a team of scientists confirmed on Thursday, setting off alarm bells for conservationists as the highly contagious disease has already killed millions of birds worldwide. Scientists first suspected the presence of avian […]
Tag: seals
Neil the Seal Goes Viral, Prompting Concern for His Welfare
A three-year-old Southern Elephant seal, affectionately dubbed Neil the Seal, has gone viral on the internet. An Instagram account with the handle @neiltheseal22 has amassed over 65,000 followers. The account documents the antics of juvenile Neil, who already weighs a whopping 1,300 pounds. However, wildlife experts have raised concerns about the seal’s safety in the […]
Petition: Help Protect Neil the Seal from Humans
Neil the Seal is a 1,300-pound southern elephant seal who has become a viral sensation in Tasmania. However, there is growing concern for his welfare. Neil’s adventures, while amusing and endearing to many, underscore the potential risks when such a large wild animal becomes too accustomed to human interaction. We must ensure Neil’s safety is […]
Lack of food is the new threat to Antarctic fur seals, research suggests
Antarctic fur seals that were hunted to near extinction have recovered but now face dangerous decline because of a lack of food, new research suggests. The study of fur seals, almost all of which live on the sub-Antarctic islands of South Georgia, shows that the modern-day population peaked in 2009 at about 3.5 million—a healthy […]
A ‘whalecam’, seals v sharks and fish that play dead: it’s Planet Earth III
A detachable “whalecam”, remote underwater cameras operated from a director’s bedroom and a “drone ballet” are among the innovations that will be featured for the first time on David Attenborough’s Planet Earth III. Following the global success of 2016’s BBC’s Planet Earth II and its famous “snakes v iguanas” scene, the corporation’s natural history unit […]
Baby Seal Does “Crazy Flops” In Cute Video
There are few things in this world cuter than a baby seal! An adorable video showing one rescued cutie is going viral. Posted by Eden Willmott, a seal rescuer in the U.K, to the account @sealrescuer, the video shows a baby harbor seal hurrying to greet her in anticipation of their morning bath. The seal’s […]
Petition: Tell the NOAA to Investigate the Cause of a Seal Pup’s Death
Another tragedy has struck the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The body of Ho’omau Lehua, a beautiful Hawaiian monk seal, was found dead. The sweet seal pup was only four months old when she died. Authorities claim the cause of death is unclear, but seals live an average of thirty years in the wild. For an animal to […]
Seal’s mystery ability to tolerate toxic metal could aid medical research, say scientists
A creature that humans came very close to obliterating now offers hope that we may be able to find ways to tackle one of the most pernicious environmental poisons, say scientists. Their research has revealed that one of the world’s most isolated aquatic mammals, Arctocephalus philippii, can tolerate high levels of cadmium, as well as […]