Mass Death of Elephant Seals on Argentina Coast... "Possible Avian Influenza Infection"

Elephant Seal Pup Mortality Rate Rises from 1% to 74%
"Carcass Samples Collected to Investigate Infection Status"

Recently, a mass die-off of elephant seals (Southern elephant seal, scientific name Mirounga leonina) occurred in Argentina, South America. Local animal organizations have raised the possibility that the elephant seals died from avian influenza infection.

According to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Argentina on the 24th (local time), a large number of elephant seal carcasses were recently found along the coast of the Vald?s Peninsula in the southern Chubut Province.

WCS, together with research teams from the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) and the National University of Central Buenos Aires (UNICEN), launched an investigation. As a result, they found that most of the dead individuals were young elephant seals.

A carcass of a southern elephant seal found on the coast of Argentina. [Image source=Yonhap News Agency·Argentina Wildlife Conservation Association]

This year, the mortality rate of young elephant seals was recorded at 56-74%, which is an unusual situation. In a related report, WCS stated, "Generally, during the Southern elephant seal breeding season (September to October), the mortality rate of pups is maintained below 1%," adding, "This record has continued in Argentina for several decades." WCS also reported that the number of adult individuals observed in coastal areas decreased by 40-70% compared to usual.

The research team believes it is highly likely that the elephant seals were infected with avian influenza before dying. In fact, local cases of avian influenza infection and death have been found in species such as the swallow-tailed gull.

WCS said, "Samples have been collected from the (elephant seal) carcasses to investigate infection with highly pathogenic (H5N1) avian influenza," and added, "If avian influenza antigens are detected, this will be recorded as the world's first case where avian influenza influenced a mass die-off of elephant seals."

Last August, a sea lion was lying next to another dead sea lion on the Atlantic Patagonia beach near Viedma, R?o Negro Province, Argentina.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Earlier, in Argentina, 280 sea lions died from avian influenza in August alone. At Mar del Plata, a famous beach in Argentina, about 50 sea lions were found dead in a mass die-off.

In Uruguay, which shares a border with Argentina, avian influenza infection in sea lions was also confirmed. The local Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries announced last month, "Following a rapid test and subsequent detailed examination, avian influenza virus was detected."

Uruguay is home to the largest sea lion habitat in Latin America, also known as the "Sea Lion Island." Local media expressed concern, stating, "If avian influenza begins to spread among mammals, the damage to sea lions could increase exponentially."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.