Malnutrition may be cause of seal deaths

Carcasses of Cape Fur seals in Lamberts Bay amid a mass mortality event unfolding along the West Coast. Picture: Tess Gridley/Sea Search

Carcasses of Cape Fur seals in Lamberts Bay amid a mass mortality event unfolding along the West Coast. Picture: Tess Gridley/Sea Search

Published Nov 2, 2021

Share

CAPE TOWN - Seals are continuing to die along various parts of the West Coast, and malnutrition may be the reason.

This is according to the provincial Disaster Management Centre, which noted that between Laaiplek and Dwarskersbos in the Bergrivier Municipality region, 144 seals were buried on Tuesday morning with another 50 at Elandsbaai.

Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell said officials had been looking into the matter for several weeks.

“The dying seals are not linked to the Avian Influenza outbreak. Rather it appears that the seals are dying due to malnutrition.

“The situation is still being investigated. In addition, we are urging the public not to feed any seals despite the concerns about malnutrition. The animals remain wild creatures and must not be made dependent on human interaction for survival,” Bredell said.

The Avian Influenza crisis in the Western Cape is not yet over but the number of dying birds continued to decline.

“Yesterday roughly 150 dead birds were found across the province in the affected areas.

“The bulk of the dead birds was on Dyer island where 122 Cape Cormorants were found.”

To date, 16 514 wild dead birds have been reported, of which the vast majority affected is the Cape Cormorant.

The public has been urged to be vigilant and report unusual mortalities in any birds to their local municipality, conservation authority or state veterinarian.

The SPCA and NSPCA may also be contacted.

Related Topics: