Most recent Patagonian (Southern) Sealion UK birth?

[John Dineley]

Thank you for posting that - so Twycross lost a male to poor health after skin and eye problems, then a further two males due to fasting, both births resulting in infant mortality, and 4 adult females have also died? Basically the ESB holder has consumed seven adults from the European population and produced none. I plead ignorance here, maybe this is standard for many zoos with this species, only there would be no Southern Sealions in captivity if this were the case. It does seem strange to me that zoos on the continent and abroad are propping up a very poor record with this species in the UK.

Is fasting common in captive-bred sealions? Were all these animals even captive-bred?

The reason why they started to use Patagonian sea lions in the UK and Europe stems back to the introduction of the US Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1975 which made it more difficult to acquire California sea lions; despite the fact that the USA was awash with surplus stock from both captive breeding and stranding networks. Patagonian’s where being imported from wild caught animals from South America. I remember animal dealers like Raversden always having them listed.

Indeed, Europe appears to have done considerably better at breeding these animals for reasons that seem unclear. Ironically I know of 3 people who have these animals in a circus environment and last year at least 2 had pups born and successfully reared! Although this isn’t as strange as it seems because it very likely these animals receive much better one-to-one care and attention than an average zoo sea lion.

I worked with these animals both at Blackpool; the zoos original group was 3 female California sea lions and 2.1 Patagonia sea lions and at Woburn with a single female paired with a captive bred male California sea lion. They are actually nice animals to work with and I have to say more ‘dog-like’ in temperament than California sea lions.

Yes, I agree that Twycross's record is very poor which is surprising as their veterinary consultants are IZVG which have considerable specialist knowledge of marine mammals.

 

[RTB1987]

it could just be down to luck rather than poor standards of care. Look at the bad luck London zoo is having in trying to get a silverback for their group of Gorillas. The number of deaths does seem high but that is over the space of 23 years of keeping them. Infant mortality may just be down to first time mothers for example

 

[johnstoni]

it could just be down to luck rather than poor standards of care. Look at the bad luck London zoo is having in trying to get a silverback for their group of Gorillas. The number of deaths does seem high but that is over the space of 23 years of keeping them. Infant mortality may just be down to first time mothers for example

Right, but I was also under the impression that Twycross also lost all seven of its Baikal Seals during the 90s. Can anyone confirm this or were some sent to other collections? If I'm correct, thats 14 pinnipeds consumed by one zoo with no surviving offspring derived from these animals.

 

[John Dineley]

Right, but I was also under the impression that Twycross also lost all seven of its Baikal Seals during the 90s. Can anyone confirm this or were some sent to other collections? If I'm correct, thats 14 pinnipeds consumed by one zoo with no surviving offspring derived from these animals.

I think they did loose them and they were not moved anywhere else. I am not sure anyone else in the UK has displayed them aside from Twycross and London Zoo many years ago. Shame as they are a nice display and from what I understand not that difficult to keep. I have an old photo of the ones at Twycross which I will try and find.

 

[Maguari]

I miss the Baikal Seals - they were lovely little chaps. Just Leipzig now with them in Europe? (and I think they're down to one...)

 

[John Dineley]

I have an old photo of the ones at Twycross which I will try and find.

Two pictures here. Not sure of the dates.

http://www.zoochat.com/41/twycross-zoo-pinnipeds-baikal-seal-140370/

http://www.zoochat.com/41/twycross-zoo-pinnipeds-baikal-seals-140371/

 

[johnstoni]

These are good photos, thanks for posting them. There was an excellent IZN article around 1992 about their management at Twycross. I don't remember which edition and have since parted company with my back issues of this publication, so I don't remember where the seals came from.

 

[kiang]

I still have that back copy Johnstoni, and there is no mention , where they came from, this group of 7, i believe was there second group of Baikal seals, i am sure they had some before.

I should also say, this thread is starting to stray

 

[johnstoni]

Back to Southern Sealions then, does anyone know where the pair at Banham until the early 90s went? Did they end up at another UK collection? I don't think they produced any pups to my knowledge.

 

[Goretex]

Yes, it is Colchester. They spent considerable money on a new exhibit, and acquired more sea lions, but then have been without a male since the opening of the exhibit. Odd. Unless they are waiting for Twycross studbook holder to allocate an animal....

I've no idea as to why they haven't got a male. But I don't think the females are fully mature and perhaps they're waiting to get a male until they're fully mature. They must be thinking of obtaining a male???