The Fundación Fauna Argentina launched a pioneering initiative in Mar del Plata regarding the study of elephant seals.
To analyze the migratory routes of the specimens that arrive on the city’s shores, they began to mark them with a non-invasive system. This ensures tracking without harming their well-being.
How they will carry out the innovative monitoring of elephant seals
The procedure is carried out with extreme care to prevent the animals from getting scared or feeling threatened.
“This is the first time it’s done here in Mar del Plata, with the same system we developed in the 90s to study the migration of sea lions,” detailed to the newspaper La Capital the marine fauna specialist and reference from the Foundation, Juan Lorenzani.
“The marking is done with a non-aggressive dye that disappears when the animal sheds its skin or fur,” he explained.
According to explanations, the decision to implement this technique responds to the increase in elephant seals in the region, where even three births on Mar del Plata beaches were recorded last year.
The population of elephant seals has increased in Mar del Plata.
“It is very important to know not only how they move within the beaches of Mar del Plata, but also to follow their trajectory once they migrate. If someone spots a marked animal in another area, this can provide valuable information about its route and habits,” added the representative of Fauna Argentina.
The request to the community
Lorenzani made a call to the community to collaborate with the project: “We are going to mark all we can. If someone sees an elephant seal, they can contact us to continue with this task,” he stated.
Furthermore, he indicated that the marked animals have specific monitoring, which promotes greater care from the public.
Overall, the organization highlighted a change in the population’s behavior towards marine fauna in general. This despite a recent incident in which a person assaulted an elephant seal.
“Despite that, the lifeguards have worked very hard this year, and people’s mindset is changing. The public, for the most part, is behaving very well.”
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