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The North Sea Seal Crisis
Bob Walker reports. |
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More than 1600 seals have died in an outbreak of a disease similar to the canine distemper virus. Most of the animals have been found washed up along the Lincolnshire and Norfolk coast.
A similar outbreak in 1988 destroyed half the local seal population and there are fears the death rate could be higher this time. The virus, which attacks the lungs, was first spotted in May in among seals breeding on the Danish island of Anholt. In August dead seals were found in and around the area of The Wash on the east coast.
Dozens of rescued animals have been taken to the RSCPA's hospital at East Winch in Norfolk. But despite intensive treatment most of the seals have succumbed to the infection. The vetinary officer Ian Robinson fears that they may be unable to save any of them.
The hospital is currently home to a number of younger seals and one fully grown common seal. Although the older animal seems to be holding its own the rest still display the coughing characteristic of the disease.
The Zoological Society of London is carrying out a government-funded project into the disease and is keen to recruit volunteers to patrol short stretches of shoreline. The society needs to know how many - if any - dying animals are found along our coast. Potential volunteers can contact the society at sealstrandings@zsl.org.
During the 1988 outbreak there was a lower death rate among seals in Scottish waters. One theory is that greater pollution in The Wash has damaged the seals immune system, leaving them vulnerable to infection.
The Zoological Society's wildlife pathologist Paul Jepson said : "We understand the effects of PDV (the phocine distemper virus) on seals. However, the current research will provide us with more information on the rate of infection along British coastlines and which seal colonies are the most severely affected."
LINKS
Contact the Zoological society
(at sealstrandings@zsl.org.)
Please Note:
The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of external websites.
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A sick seal
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A seal rescued by the RSPCA
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