A fur seal pup on a visit to the RECS



South American fur seal
26-07-13 © Eduardo Haene

On Friday, 26th of July 2013 at 3 p.m. a South American Fur Seal
Arctophoca australis was spotted on the coast of Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve between Playa de los Seibos and Punta Ombú. It seemed to be in good health. At 6:30 p.m. a fire brigade of Prefectura arrived on the scene properly equipped to save it, but the animal dived into the water and disappeared.

In winter lost individuals may appear. They breed on the island Isla de los Lobos in the mouth of the Plata estuary, in Uruguay. They may separate from their mothers when being taught how to fish. Since they may not still be apt to live on their own, they are caught and taken to the Zoo of Buenos Aires where they are taken care of till they can be released.