EntriesNovember 3 Walruses Spotted With Unusual Disease
What is happening in Alaska with the ringed seals and the walruses? They are being spotted with unusual skin lesions or wounds. These sores can be found in different parts of their body. Could they be exposed to a new predator or virus? The rough estimate for now is a staggering 600 animals with these reddish festering wounds all over their body. The seals used to have them in their faces and on their back flippers. The walruses are showing signs of the wounds everywhere on their bodies. Out of the 600, just a handful of these animals have died. All those walruses who have died all had lesions on them with no other sign of anything else wrong. So far over 20,000 walruses have washed up on shore with or without the lesions since 2007.
The main working theory right now scientists have to explain this situation is climate change. The animals have no reason to star acting differently, and there are no reports of new threats from other animals. One walrus specialist, Tony Fischbach has even brought up the possibility of a bubonic plague for marine animals.
It is also possible that the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill could have contributed to the presence of toxins in the water. Approximately 260,000 to 750,000 crude oil barrels went into the water. The oil spilled onto the natural habitat of seals, sea otters, and salmon. It was an area very difficult to reach which means the possibility is high that not everything was cleaned up.
Scientists are racing to find the cause with tissue and skin samples being sent post haste to labs for examination and testing. So far the instructions is to test for everything from poison to chemicals, viruses, and animal attacks.
If climate change is the cause, then very little can be done to save these animals. Water temperature has dropped and sea ice has been reduced considerably.
If this trend continues unabated, and the marine animals find no way to ease their situation, it could become very critical. The marine animals could start dying in bigger numbers and the population will drop to dramatic levels.
It is also possible that the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill could have contributed to the presence of toxins in the water. Approximately 260,000 to 750,000 crude oil barrels went into the water. The oil spilled onto the natural habitat of seals, sea otters, and salmon. It was an area very difficult to reach which means the possibility is high that not everything was cleaned up.
Scientists are racing to find the cause with tissue and skin samples being sent post haste to labs for examination and testing. So far the instructions is to test for everything from poison to chemicals, viruses, and animal attacks.
If climate change is the cause, then very little can be done to save these animals. Water temperature has dropped and sea ice has been reduced considerably.
If this trend continues unabated, and the marine animals find no way to ease their situation, it could become very critical. The marine animals could start dying in bigger numbers and the population will drop to dramatic levels.
Reference: Illustrated Encyclopedia of endangered animals.
Tags: Alaska endangered animals, disease, walrus, walruses