GNP NEWS: Galapagos Sea Lion Populations Remain Stable

The Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) continues its research and monitoring efforts to locate the cause of abnormal death of the galapagos sea lion child

In June 2011, officials of the Ocean Research Division of San Cristobal Island Office in the Galapagos National Park discovered 19 larvae of the Galapagos (Zalophus wollebaeki). Correspondingly, the park added monitoring of the sea community on several beaches of San Cristobal including LaLobería and Playa Mann, with an estimated mortality rate of 66%.

The action plan was developed before the peak breeding season in September and November. We monitored the breeding ground from San Cristobal to Española, Santa Fe, Caamaño Islands and autopsied about the dead turnip. Blood and tissue samples were sent to the laboratories of Quito, USA and Canada for the presence of pathogens such as leptospirosis, brucellosis, parvovirus, calicivirus, influenza and canine distemper. The results of all these studies were negative

Last year, GNPS focused on securing water quality, reducing imported animals (dogs, cats, rats), and strengthening quarantine measures to prevent transmission of pathogens, to prevent the sea lion's risk to be minimized We have been working on implementing measures. Between islands

This park is currently formulating a management plan to protect the Galapagos sea lion. This includes ongoing monitoring of the population and preventive protection measures to protect colonies that interact with people's place of residence. These measures are carried out jointly with municipalities and organizations involved in the management and management of densely populated areas.

Galapagos sea lion is a unique species thought to have been extinct by the World Conservation Union. Located at the top of the food chain, it has high ecological value and is worth high ecotourism as one of the most attractive species in Galapagos. Galapagos sea lion is considered one of the famous tourist attractions of San Cristobal.

The group of Galapagos sea lion migrated to Peru - scientists think this is caused by global warming. In the Galapagos Islands there are many endemic species, including the Galapagos sea lions that can not be found anywhere in the world. Lovely Galapagos Sea Lion is a favorite of Galapagos visitors, with antics and underwater acrobatics to bring pleasure to visitors. In the past, the individual Galapagos sea lions traveled to the sea too far along the coasts of Peru, Ecuador and even Colombia, suffering and discovered, but these are unfortunate people. In this case, about 30 colonies of the Galapagos sea lion community had already lived on the coast of Peru, Fukushima. Wildlife such as sea lions and Humboldt penguins live on Foga Island. Galapagos sea lion also honors old friends in new houses, such as blue feet ostriches and frigate birds.

Sea lions or Spanish seabirds belong to the same family as seals and walruses. Galapagos sea lion is only six sea lions. They are believed to be California sea late until recently, but the latest DNA studies confirm that they are unique species isolated from California sea lions about 2 million years ago. They are smaller than California cousins, short muzzle, small forehead - and do not forget, like most Ecuadorans ... they are very friendly!

Galapagos has two types of sea lions, ubiquitous galapagos sea lions and more rare fur seals. Both types of sea lion are in the fins. I will explain the difference between these spiers and the following "real seal". But first, we need to distinguish similarities and similarities between Galapagos sea lions and fur seals. Sea lions can also control their flippers independently. In contrast, the front legs of the seal are weak, the fur is thin, the front legs are thin, the ankles are thin and their rear fins do not rotate. They are much smaller than sea lions. They moved to land by using these small appendages to move forward, and their movements were somewhat similar to caterpillars. But their rear fins are stronger and push them across the surface.