Chile Colony Doubles After Avian Flu
- JACKSON BAY,Chile (AP) — A colony of southern elephant seals in Jackson Bay,Tierra del Fuego,has shown remarkable resilience after a severe avian flu outbreak in 2023.
- The 2023 avian flu outbreak decimated the colony, reducing its numbers by an estimated 50%.
- However, the news from the 2024-2025 season, which concluded in April, is encouraging.
Marine Elephant Colony Rebounds in Chilean Bay After Devastating Avian Flu
Table of Contents
- Marine Elephant Colony Rebounds in Chilean Bay After Devastating Avian Flu
- Marine elephant Colony Rebounds in Chilean Bay After Devastating Avian Flu
- key Questions and Answers about the Jackson Bay Elephant Seal Colony
- What happened to the elephant seal colony in jackson Bay?
- How is the elephant seal population recovering?
- Where is Jackson Bay located?
- Why is Jackson Bay important for elephant seals?
- What are the main threats to the elephant seal colony?
- What is being done to monitor the elephant seals?
- What are the migration patterns of the elephant seals?
- How does the protected status of Jackson Bay help the seals?
- What are the challenges of monitoring the elephant seals in Jackson Bay?
- What role does the Almirantazgo Sound play in the seals’ habitat?
- Why is jackson Bay considered a potential health refuge for the seals?
- What data is WCS Chile collecting to monitor the seals?
- How has the population of elephant seals in Jackson bay changed over time?
- Key Findings and Observations
- Summary of Monitoring and Research Efforts
JACKSON BAY,Chile (AP) — A colony of southern elephant seals in Jackson Bay,Tierra del Fuego,has shown remarkable resilience after a severe avian flu outbreak in 2023. The population, which uses the remote bay as a crucial site for molting and reproduction, has not only recovered but also experienced a surge in births, according to recent monitoring efforts.
The 2023 avian flu outbreak decimated the colony, reducing its numbers by an estimated 50%. This followed earlier outbreaks in Europe and North America that demonstrated the virus’s capacity to inflict notable mortality on marine mammals.
Population Doubles, Births Increase
However, the news from the 2024-2025 season, which concluded in April, is encouraging. The elephant seal population in Jackson Bay has doubled to approximately 200 individuals,with 33 pups born,according to Cristóbal Arredondo,a veterinarian and coordinator with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Chile.
“This is great news for the conservation of the species,” Arredondo said. He noted that Jackson Bay’s location within the fjords and channels of Tierra del Fuego may provide a degree of protection against future pandemics.
A Potential Health Refuge
Jackson Bay is located within the Multiple Uses Protected Coastal Marine Area (AMCP MU) Sine Almirantazgo, managed by the Ministry of habitat (MMA), and near Karukinka Park, a private conservation initiative administered by WCS Chile. Javiera Constanzo with AMCP MU believes the bay may serve as a refuge.
The Almirantazgo Sound, a fjord fed by glaciers from the Darwin mountain range, creates a highly productive marine environment. Constanzo explained that the sound acts as a funnel, leading the elephant seals to Jackson Bay.
The protected status of the area is crucial, preventing potentially disruptive activities, Constanzo said. The isolation of Jackson Bay may also offer a degree of protection from disease, a hypothesis currently under investigation.
Monitoring Efforts Reveal Migration Patterns
Researchers have been tracking the movements of the Jackson Bay elephant seal colony using satellite transmitters. The data reveals that while some seals remain within the fjords, others migrate to the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans, reaching as far as the Valdés Peninsula in Argentina.
The Valdés Peninsula experienced a massive die-off of elephant seals during the 2023 avian flu outbreak, with an estimated 17,000 deaths, according to a study published in *Nature Communications*. The significant decline in elephant seal numbers following the epidemic raised concerns among scientists monitoring the Jackson Bay colony.
Arredondo said the WCS Chile team and the MMA of Magallanes were anxious to see if the colony would recover. The latest data indicates a positive trend, with the population rebounding to previous levels and a healthy number of births recorded.
According to WCS Chile data, 30 pups were born in 2022 and 27 in 2021, indicating a consistent increase in births over the past five years.Constanzo said this sustained growth reflects the colony’s recovery from the avian flu.
Scientists theorize that the bay’s location, isolated from other affected colonies, may have limited the spread of the virus. They also suggest that any infected seals may have died before returning to Jackson Bay.
Challenges of monitoring in a Remote Location
monitoring the elephant seal colony in Jackson Bay presents significant logistical challenges. The area is known for extreme winds, reaching speeds of up to 75 mph, making it difficult to land researchers. Despite these challenges, scientists are committed to studying the colony.
Biologist Maritza Sepúlveda, along with a team of Chilean and British scientists, installed satellite transmitters on the elephant seals to track their movements. Sepúlveda said the Cape Horn current, in which the colony moves, is poorly understood but crucial to study due to climate change.
WCS Chile uses these monitoring trips to collect valuable scientific data. Veterinarians collect samples to study the microbiome and test for viruses.They also use ultrasound to measure the animals’ fat layer, assess their body condition, and collect hair and whiskers for analyzing trophic ecology and heavy metal presence.
“Cooperation allows us to optimize resources, share knowledge, and ensure that valuable data is obtained that contribute to the understanding and conservation of this colony of marine elephants,” Arredondo said.
The monitoring program, which has been ongoing for more than 16 years, involves annual surveys of the beach and coastal area between October and April. Researchers classify the elephants by age and gender, even though some individuals cannot be identified due to their position.
Along with manual counts, drones are used to map the area and provide detailed images of the elephant seal locations.francisco Brañas, with the MMA Office of the Magallanes Region, said these images provide additional facts, such as the size and body weight of the animals, allowing researchers to assess their health and nutritional status.
“The images captured by the drones provide us with a more complete and precise vision of the colony,” Brañas said.
The consistent monitoring efforts have been crucial in evaluating the colony’s recovery. The first survey in 2006 counted 46 individuals, and since then, the population has generally shown a growth trend.
The remarkable recovery of the marine elephant seal population in Jackson Bay highlights the species’ resilience and the importance of collaborative monitoring efforts in remote and challenging environments.
Reference
Marcela M. Uhart, Ralph et Vanstreels, Martha I. Nelson,Valeria Olivera,Julieta Campagna,Victoria Zavattieri,Philippe Lemey,Claudio Campagna,Valeria Falabella & Agustina Rimondi (2024) Epidemiological data of an influence A/H5n1 Outbreak in Elephant Seals in Argentina indicates indicates Mammal-to-Mammal Transmission
_Main image: Marine elephant in Jackson bay. Photo: Francisco Brañas_
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Marine elephant Colony Rebounds in Chilean Bay After Devastating Avian Flu
JACKSON BAY, Chile (AP) — A colony of southern elephant seals in Jackson Bay, Tierra del Fuego, has shown remarkable resilience after a severe avian flu outbreak in 2023. The population, which uses the remote bay as a crucial site for molting and reproduction, has not only recovered but also experienced a surge in births, according to recent monitoring efforts.
The 2023 avian flu outbreak decimated the colony,reducing its numbers by an estimated 50%. This followed earlier outbreaks in Europe and North America that demonstrated the virus’s capacity to inflict notable mortality on marine mammals.
key Questions and Answers about the Jackson Bay Elephant Seal Colony
What happened to the elephant seal colony in jackson Bay?
The elephant seal colony in Jackson Bay experienced a severe decline due to an avian flu outbreak in 2023. The population was reduced by an estimated 50% due to the outbreak.
How is the elephant seal population recovering?
The elephant seal population is showing a remarkable recovery. The population has doubled to around 200 individuals, with a surge in births. In the 2024-2025 season, 33 pups were born.
Where is Jackson Bay located?
Jackson Bay is located in Tierra del Fuego,Chile.
Why is Jackson Bay important for elephant seals?
Jackson Bay is crucial for elephant seals because it’s used for molting and reproduction. Also,the isolation of the bay may offer protection from diseases.
What are the main threats to the elephant seal colony?
The main threats include: Avian flu outbreaks and harsh environmental conditions.
What is being done to monitor the elephant seals?
Researchers are using satellite transmitters to track the seals’ movements. they also conduct annual surveys, classify the seals, and use drones to monitor the area. Veterinarians collect samples for disease and nutritional status.
What are the migration patterns of the elephant seals?
Some seals remain within the fjords, while others migrate to the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans, including the Valdés Peninsula in Argentina.
How does the protected status of Jackson Bay help the seals?
the protected status prevents disruptive activities and helps create a safe refuge for the seals, perhaps limiting the spread of diseases.
What are the challenges of monitoring the elephant seals in Jackson Bay?
The remote location and extreme weather conditions,including winds up to 75 mph (120 km/h),present significant logistical challenges for researchers.
What role does the Almirantazgo Sound play in the seals’ habitat?
The Almirantazgo Sound, a fjord fed by glaciers, creates a highly productive marine habitat. It acts as a funnel, guiding the elephant seals to Jackson Bay.
Why is jackson Bay considered a potential health refuge for the seals?
The isolation of Jackson Bay may offer a degree of protection from disease, although this is still under examination. The protected status of the area also helps in this regard.The location within the fjords may provide additional protection.
What data is WCS Chile collecting to monitor the seals?
WCS Chile collects valuable scientific data including:
- Tracking movements with satellite transmitters
- Collecting samples to study the microbiome
- Testing for viruses
- Using ultrasound to measure fat layers
- Collecting hair and whiskers for analysis of trophic ecology and heavy metals
How has the population of elephant seals in Jackson bay changed over time?
The population has generally shown a growth trend, and in 2024 reached approximately 200 seals.Consistent monitoring efforts have shown the growth trend starting with the first survey in 2006 when 46 individuals were counted.
Key Findings and Observations
Here’s a summary of key findings:
- Recovery: The elephant seal colony has shown remarkable resilience, doubling its population after the 2023 avian flu outbreak.
- Births: There’s been a surge in births, indicating a healthy and recovering population.
- Location: Jackson Bay’s environment and protected status are fundamental to promote the species preservation.
Summary of Monitoring and Research Efforts
The data collected reveals a number of captivating facts,as outlined in the table below.
| Effort | Method | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite Transmitters | Attaching transmitters to seals | Tracking migration patterns. |
| Annual Surveys | Manual counts and classifications | Assessing population size, age, and gender. |
| Drone Imagery | using drones to capture images | Providing detailed facts, assessing health and nutritional status |
| sample collection | Collecting samples by Veterinarians | Studying the microbiome, testing for viruses, and measuring body condition. |
Main image: Marine elephant in Jackson bay. Photo: Francisco Brañas