The birth of a southern elephant seal surprised yesterday on the beaches of Punta Mogotes. The pup was born in the early morning on the beach of the Automóvil Club Argentino (ACA) resort.
A perimeter fence was placed to prevent people, dogs, or other animals from bothering the pup and its mother. Specialists confirmed that the animal should stay in the area for about 20 days and requested that no one try to approach.
Reproductive Context
“We are in the reproductive period of the southern elephant seal. They usually reproduce in the Valdes Peninsula, but this female did it here in Mar del Plata. It is not common,” said Carolina De León, a Conicet scholarship holder and specialist in this species.
In recent weeks, three births of southern elephant seals have been recorded on the coasts of the Province of Buenos Aires (Mar Chiquita, Villa Gesell, and Nueva Atlantis).
Characteristics of the Southern Elephant Seal
The southern elephant seal belongs to the seal family (Phocidae Family) and is the largest of the pinnipeds, a group that includes seals, walruses, and sea lions. Adult males are almost five times heavier than females and have a pronounced proboscis or trunk, which gives rise to their common name.
Lactation and Care
Elephant seals are mammals, so they gestate their pups in the womb and breastfeed them. During lactation, mothers and their pups stay on the beach for about 25 days.
Pups gain an average of 5 kg per day, while mothers lose between 9 and 12 kg in weight. It is crucial to care for the mother-pup bond and not disturb them during their time on the beach.
Maternal Behavior
Mothers fast completely during lactation and make brief trips to the sea to monitor their pups. Once weaning is complete, it occurs abruptly, and mothers go on to make their feeding trips in the open sea that can last two months.
Weaned pups stay on the beach for several weeks, making trips to the sea to learn how to obtain their food.
Life Cycle and Distribution
The annual life cycle of the southern elephant seal includes two terrestrial stages: one dedicated to molting (December to February) and the other to reproduction (August to November), alternated with two stages of feeding in the open sea.
The presence of specimens of this species on the Buenos Aires coasts is recorded throughout the year, particularly during molting and/or breeding periods.
Population Increase and New Colonies
The records of births on the coasts of the province of Buenos Aires could correspond to young adult females experiencing their first birth.
The colony of elephant seals of Peninsula Valdés has experienced a significant population increase in recent decades, with approximately 18,000 pups born annually. For this reason, the presence of southern elephant seal specimens along the entire coast of the province of Buenos Aires is becoming more frequent.
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