Two Females Deemed Non-Releasable after Stranding in Calif.
“Her body is about the size of a loaf of ciabatta bread.”
That is how Pup XCu32 was recently described.
She is one of a dynamic duo of Northern fur seal pups that
arrived at Mystic Aquarium on the evening of Thursday, April 28, 2016. Along
with Pup XCu31, the two are currently being cared for in Mystic Aquarium’s
Aquatic Animal Study Center (AASC).
“With animal conservation central to our mission and the
number one goal of our animal care team, we are honored to have this opportunity
to care for these special animals as new inhabitants of Mystic Aquarium,” said
Dr. Allison D. Tuttle, Vice President of Biological Programs.
These two tiny pups are acclimating to Mystic’s Animal Care
Team. And, while in excellent condition, they will remain in AARC during
a requisite quarantine period before being introduced into the Pacific
Northwest Exhibit where they will join fellow fur seal rescues Ziggy Star and
Sam.
According to the International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) the Callorhinus ursinus or Northern fur seal is classified
as Vulnerable (VU); meaning the species is “considered to be facing a
high risk of extinction in the wild.”
The two will receive formal names from the Animal Care Team
in the coming days.
Pup XCu31was found walking on the boardwalk at Venice Beach
on November 16. After months of rehabilitation at the Marine Mammal Care Center
in San Pedro,Calif., she has demonstrated no interest in foraging for fish.
Still reliant on tube-feeding for sustenance, she was deemed
non-releasable. Pup XCu32 stranded at Dockweiler Beach in Los Angeles
County on November 15 with evidence of emaciation.
She also demonstrated an
abnormal reluctance to forage for fish during rehabilitation at the Marine
Mammal Care Center. With this sustained behavior she, too, was deemed
non-releasable by the federal government.
Mystic Aquarium, as one of only
four AZA facilities that comprise a consortium to care for Northern fur seals,
will be providing a permanent home for the two pups. There are currently
eight (8) Northern fur seals in human care in
the US.
Once hunted in large numbers for
their luxurious pelts Northern fur seals are now protected under the Marine Mammal
Protection Act. In 2008, Northern fur seals were listed as a vulnerable
species by the IUCN.
These two female Northern fur seals will be critical to the
future of the species; providing an important role in future breeding
opportunities and breeding research. The research will be pivotal as
Consortium scientists and researchers strive to understand the causes for the
population decreases and provide insight in hopes of contributing to the
recovery of the species.
Mystic’s history with this species
goes back to 1977. One of our most popular residents is Ziggy Star, a rescued
Northern fur seal with her own success story.
About Mystic Aquarium
Mystic Aquarium, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is
counted among the nation’s leading aquariums with more than 300 species and an
extensive collection of marine mammals, including New England’s only belugas.
Mystic Aquarium has been a pioneer in offering guests a variety of up close
encounters with a wide range of marine animals. The mission of Mystic Aquarium
is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through
conservation, education, and research. Mystic Aquarium receives major support
from The Coca-Cola Company, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Resorts World Sentosa, and
United Technologies Corporation. Learn more at MysticAquarium.org.