Weekly Fibsh Digest #2

By lostinkelpNews, Weekly Fibsh Digest
Curated by the Seal Librarian

It will probably not be weekly, but whenever his laser-focus on pinnipeds sends him waddling toward something curious or delightful, he’ll haul it ashore to share. Here are this week’s glittering finds from his foraging flippers:

Elephant Seal Pups on the Mainland: A Tale of Two Births
Two Southern elephant seal pups were born on the South American mainland this October – a rare and recent phenomenon, as these seals typically give birth on remote islands. Unfortunately, mainland births pose serious risks: pups are entirely dependent on their mothers for several weeks and are vulnerable to abandonment, especially due to human disturbance.
  • In Villa Gesell, Argentina, a pup named Cachorro was abandoned and rescued. He’s now under the care of Fundación Mundo Marino, but his condition remains fragile.
  • In Piriápolis, Uruguay, the first-ever elephant seal pup born there – Francisco – is still with his mother. The local community, guided by S.O.S. Rescate Fauna Marina , rallied to protect him, and so far, it’s working!
Read more about Francisco’s miracle (and see some really cute photos) at fm 106.5 Cadena del Mar (ES), and about Cachorro at Telegrafo (ES). Or about both in La Prensa (ES).
Saimaa Ringed Seals: A Conservation Win
Encouraging news from Finland: the endangered Saimaa ringed seal population continues to grow, thanks to conservation efforts led by groups like Suomen luonnonsuojeluliitto. Numbers remain low, but every pup counts. Let’s celebrate the progress! (Yle)
Harbor Seal Pups and the Mouth Rot Crisis
In the UK, mouth rot has devastated harbor seal pups in recent years. This painful and often fatal disease requires early detection and treatment. A new study led by BDMLR in collaboration with Tynemouth Seal Hospital is digging into its causes and exploring potential treatments. (BBC)
Myth-Busting: Do Seals Really Eat All the Fish?
The old claim that seals are to blame for dwindling fish stocks – especially cod – is once again debunked. A recent study reported by The Wildlife Society shows that even if harp seal populations were drastically reduced, the impact on cod recovery would be minimal. Ecosystems are complex, and other species may play a much larger role in cod population dynamics.
“All Seals Come from Heaven”
Don’t miss this sweet (or maybe bittersweet) short story of a seal pup shared by Reddit user Shroomongous1. It’s available to read on Google Docs and titled: All Seals come from heaven. A perfect bit of pupspective and heart. If you have five minutes, you won’t regret investing them!