The Chubut Department of Flora and Fauna in Southern Argentina confirmed they have registered more than 1,300 bird flu-caused deaths of baby elephant seals on the province’s shores, the largest number of deaths since they started keeping records. 

“We were aware of the phenomenon because corpses were being found in surveys along the Atlantic coast, but now we can provide a number because monitoring has been completed and all statistics have been reviewed”, said Flora and Fauna director Fernando Bersano. 

The Valdés Peninsula is home to the largest elephant seal colonies in South America.  

Bersano acknowledged to Télam that they have no way of ensuring that this mortality rate will put the species at risk. “But surely the fact that these were pups who would have been available for breeding harems in the coming seasons will undoubtedly affect the reproductive cycle,” he said

Bersano said they were surprised by the data because the initial concern about the effects of bird flu was focused on the population of one and two-haired sea lions, which have a larger number of specimens and about which over 250 deaths have been reported.

Bird flu also hit the population of coastal birds such as sandpipers, terns, cormorants, and penguins, but in a much smaller number than was initially feared.

The Chubut official also took the opportunity to ask the population “not to approach the animals when they see them on the coast” and said it was dangerous for both the person and the animal.

“We trust the judgment of tourists and residents, because we cannot issue fines or prosecute them, but we can inform them that they shouldn’t do that”.

– with information by Télam