mazmessenger.com
The loss of the seal colony began slowly then
intensified.
For years during the winter months, seals have made their home and resting place on Turtle Rock in the bay, much to the delight of tourists who snapped photos of the colony from tour boats.
This year, however, the Rock is deserted.
Raquel Briseño Dueñas, member of the Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, has been investigating and documenting the gradual decline of Mazatlán’s seal colony.
Within the last ten years, she said, she began documenting the reduction of seals visiting the harbour and the sighting of dead seals on beaches. The loss began slowly then intensified.
The visits of the mammals to Mazatlán in winter months began centuries ago when they would congregate on the Tres Islas. When Mazatlán was colonized, the visits began to decline.
One hypothesis is the colony could have been threatened
by tour boats.
Today, said Briseño Dueñas, there are several hypotheses as to why the seal population has declined. The colony could have been threatened by the tour boats, or their food supply has dwindled or they have suffered physical threats.
The investigator mentioned specifically another possible reason: a helicopter that began flying over Turtle Rock which panicked the seal colony and sent it into the water.
In 2009 the seals began to arrive in diminished numbers, down from between 20 or 25 to approximately eight. In 2011-2012, they arrived only sporadically. Today, she pointed out, they have gone.
We do not know, the marine biologist added, whether this is a temporary situation or if the seals will return to Turtle Rock. (from Noroeste)
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