Conservationists say the ‘catastrophic’ mass seal deaths have never been seen before in Patagonia

Lilia Sebouai and Maeve Cullinan, GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY REPORTER23 January 2024 • 4:03pm

Related Topics

• Global Health Security, 
• Bird Flu, 
• Argentina, 
• South America, 
• Pandemics and epidemics

• https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/bird-flu-kills-17000-elephant-seal-pups-in-argentina/

Bird flu has wiped out more than 17,000 southern elephant seal pups in Argentina, scientists say.

An estimated 95 per cent of the population at the Valdes Peninsula in the south of the country were found dead in November, according to a report analysing the “catastrophic mortality” inflicted by the virus throughout the Patagonia region.

The animals tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, which has now spread to every continent, other than Oceania, since 2021, killing millions of birds. During this time, it has also jumped into and spread within several mammal species.

“I started to work with these animals in the ‘70s, and I have never seen something like this. Nobody has seen something like this,” said Claudio Campagna, a conservation researcher at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Argentina.

Scientists are concerned that this event could have a long-term impact on the elephant seal population in Patagonia.

Given that it takes three to six years for the animal to reach sexual maturity, there is growing fear that colonies in the region might experience a significant decline in numbers by 2026, as fewer juvenile seals will be able to join the breeding population.

H5N1 is responsible for other mass mortality events in South America, including thousands of sea lion deaths in Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, and Peru.

Although most animals become infected from feeding off the bodies of dead birds, there is growing evidence that suggests the H5N1 strain can infect and kill certain mammal species.

This can be seen with the mass death of the elephant seal pups in Argentina. Scientists noted that the pups nurse off their mothers and are therefore unlikely to consume the carcasses of infected birds. 

Meanwhile, the first recorded death of a polar bear from bird flu was reported in Alaska earlier this month. It is thought that the bear contracted the disease by feasting on a dead bird. 

Scientists have warned that the presence of bird flu in the Arctic poses a new threat for the continent’s diverse range of mammals, many of which are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, mainly due to the melting of sea ice.

There is also rising concern that the H5N1 virus might one day mutate and adapt to spread in humans.

Scientists discovered last year that the virus spreads efficiently between ferrets – the main ‘animal model’ used by researchers in experiments to analyse how respiratory infections could impact humans.

A 19-year-old Minnesota man hunting near Torrington, Wyoming, was shot and killed while hunting Saturday afternoon. His death has been ruled an accident.

Mark Heinz

January 23, 20242 min read

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/01/23/minnesota-man-19-shot-and-killed-in-wyoming-hunting-accident/

A 19-year-old Minnesota man died from a gunshot wound Saturday afternoon after an apparent hunting accident along the North Platte River northwest of Torrington, Wyoming.

Maurizio Dadin Justiniano was pronounced dead at the scene after first responders’ efforts to resuscitate him failed, according to a joint statement from the Goshen County Sheriff’s and Coroner’s offices. The death was ruled an accident.

Several Agencies Responded

Coroner Darin Yates told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday that no details beyond what was in the statement were being released.

An emergency call for help went out at about 2:30 p.m., and personnel from the sheriff’s office, Torrington EMS, Lingle EMS and Regional West Medical Center responded.

No details were provided regarding what type of firearm was involved, where Justiniano had been hit, how many other people were involved or what type of hunting he was engaged in at the time of the accident.

Justiniano’s hometown wasn’t listed.

Happened At Wildlife Management Area

The accidental shooting happened on the Rawhide Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The WMA is managed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Game and Fish Laramie region spokeswoman Caroline Rosinski told Cowboy State Daily.

Game and Fish was alerted to the incident, but wasn’t involved in the investigation, she said.

Hunting seasons for waterfowl, squirrels and rabbits are currently open on the Rawhide WMA.

WMAs provide public access for hunting, fishing and other activities. The Rawhide WMA encompasses about 812 acres, roughly two miles south of Lingle and eight miles northwest of Torrington.