The organization WCS Argentina warned that southern elephant seals have become a “vulnerable population” after the loss of 97% of the pups in the 2023 season due to highly pathogenic avian influenza. Therefore, they are promoting an urgent census in Península Valdés and other areas of Chubut for October 2026.
Julieta Campagna, landscape conservation coordinator at Valdés, stated: “Avian flu exposed the fragility of wildlife, dramatically impacting a population that was healthy”.
Background and previous censuses
The last complete census was conducted in 2022 and recorded a steady growth of nearly 1% annually, with about 18,000 pups born. However, the epidemic abruptly changed the scenario in 2023.
Since then, WCS Argentina conducted partial counts in 2024 and 2025, confirming a marked reduction of individuals on the Chubut coast.
Species distribution
The elephant seal population is concentrated in three coastal sectors:
- Península Valdés (Protected Natural Area).
- Punta Ninfas / Bajo de los Huesos.
- Isla Escondida.
This is the only continental and temperate latitude breeding colony of the species in the southern hemisphere. Every spring and summer, the animals return to reproduce and molt, during fasting periods that make them more sensitive.
How the census is conducted
The census must be carried out in the first weeks of October, coinciding with the reproductive peak. Demographic data, social structure, and location of harems are surveyed through:
- Terrestrial counts.
- Aerial counts with drones.
These data allow for recording abundance and distribution trends, detecting abnormal mortality, and adjusting hypotheses about recovery times after the epidemic.
Obstacles to monitoring
WCS Argentina warned that access to key areas has become more difficult since 2022, as many sectors are on private lands and some owners have stopped granting research permits.
Valeria Falabella, director of coastal-marine conservation at WCS, called for support from authorities and landowners to complete the full census in 2026.
Importance of the new count
The results of a comprehensive census will provide inputs for:
- Designing conservation strategies inside and outside the Protected Natural Area.
- Guiding precautionary management of tourist and recreational activities in areas like Punta Ninfas and Isla Escondida.
- Applying provincial law XI N° 92 (approved in 2025), which reinforces the conservation of the species along the entire Chubut coast.
WCS Argentina’s track record
Since the 1980s, WCS Argentina has been conducting research on the abundance, distribution, and conservation status of elephant seals in Península Valdés. Their teams prepare technical reports for provincial authorities and promote sustained censuses and monitoring, aiming to protect an emblematic species of the Argentine Sea.
The crisis caused by avian flu exposed the vulnerability of elephant seals in Chubut.
The census scheduled for October 2026 will be key to understanding the magnitude of the impact, designing conservation measures, and ensuring the survival of a species that is part of the country’s natural heritage.
