Hi all
Report received via DOC (with photos) of a crabeater seal seen yesterday on beach north of Otaki River mouth. This is the ninth known occurrence in New Zealand.
http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2016/03/02/t ... ter-seals/
Cheers
Colin
Crabeater seal, Waikawa
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Crabeater seal, Waikawa
Last edited by Colin Miskelly on Thu Jul 20, 2017 5:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Crabeater seal, Waikawa
Still present today (Waikawa Beach)
Colin
Colin
Last edited by Colin Miskelly on Thu Jul 20, 2017 5:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Crabeater seal, Waikawa
The seal was near death and was euthanised this morning.
Colin
Colin
Last edited by Colin Miskelly on Thu Jul 20, 2017 5:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Crabeater seal, Otaki
Any obvious reason for the death?
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Re: Crabeater seal, Waikawa
Crabeater seals are specialist krill eaters, which they catch by gulping mouthfuls of water (and krill) and straining it out through their ornate, interlocking teeth. See image in:
http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2015/04/01/a-crabeater-seal-a-long-way-from-home/
Antarctic krill are both more abundant and much larger than those in New Zealand waters. Most crabeater seals that reach our shores are emaciated (as was the Waikawa animal), presumably because they have been unable to find suitable food once out of Antarctic waters.
Cheers
Colin
http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2015/04/01/a-crabeater-seal-a-long-way-from-home/
Antarctic krill are both more abundant and much larger than those in New Zealand waters. Most crabeater seals that reach our shores are emaciated (as was the Waikawa animal), presumably because they have been unable to find suitable food once out of Antarctic waters.
Cheers
Colin
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Re: Crabeater seal, Waikawa
Thanks for the answer. so its the abundance rather than the size of the krill that makes the difference. What a pity!
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Re: Crabeater seal, Waikawa
Hi Olwen
It is size also - the small krill in New Zealand waters (e.g. Nyctiphanes australis) would not be caught by the 'tooth sieve'.
Cheers
Colin
It is size also - the small krill in New Zealand waters (e.g. Nyctiphanes australis) would not be caught by the 'tooth sieve'.
Cheers
Colin