Seal numbers on Victorian island plummet as pollution affects pups
Deen Maar Island was once home to Australia's largest fur seal colony before the pups started developing alopecia.
The fur seal population on the south-west Victorian island of Deen Maar has plummeted by over 40% in the last nine years, due to widespread hair loss attributed to pollution. This once-thriving colony, known as Lady Julia Percy Island, now sees only around 700 pups born each summer. Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation coordinator Dave Williams noticed large patches of fur loss, which can render the seals vulnerable to the H5N1 strain of bird flu.
Marine researcher Rebecca McIntosh found that alopecia is rare in fur seal colonies, with Deen Maar being the primary affected area. Research suggests that heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants may be linked to the pollution, possibly originating from nearby industrial areas. If Deen Maar's seals suffer from pollution, it could have detrimental effects on other marine life in the region, potentially disrupting the entire food chain.
The colony's unique genetic makeup makes its survival crucial for the long-term health of the species, which was nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
