Million Dollar Antur Seal
01 Nov — 2016
Million Dollar Antur Seal

October 30, 2016 the Commander Islands Nature and Biosphere Reserve made an application for a special WWF grant within the Nature Reserves and National Parks of Russia program. Our goal is to research the biology and ecology of anturs around the Commander Islands – rare and little-studied subspecies of the harbor seal. That is why we need to buy modern trail cameras and to get help of two biologists-volunteers during surveying season in 2017.

 

It is time to ring the alarm

 

Anturs are particularly rare and can be found in Russia only off the coast of Kamchatka peninsular, around the Kuril Islands or the Commander Islands.

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Anturs on Toporkov Island. Photo by Ivan Rybakov

The latest full research of antur seal population size in the South of Kamchatka and on the Kuril Islands was made in 2000. According to the data, under 500 animals were found near Kamchatka and 3 500 on the Kuril Islands. In 2013 scientists conducted a new but not full survey only on some of the islands in the Kuril Chain. It showed a considerable reduction of population numbers.

 

On the Commander Islands employees of the Nature and Biosphere Reserve and other scientists regularly monitor the population size. Our data, collected within many years, prove the picture given by the survey of 2013 on some of the Kuril Islands – antur seal population is constantly decreasing. For example, in 2000 a half of the antur population was on the Commander Islands – about 4 500 animals – but recently there are about 1 500 of them.

 

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Antur is watching the photographer. Photo by Ivan Rybakov

Today we do not know the reason of such vanishing of these rare and fascinating animals, which are also called flower seals due to their extraordinary coloration. Their coat is full of dark – from grey to black – spots similar to Dalmatian dogs. It is quite evident that such coloration appeared not for our esthetic enjoyment but to mask the antur on land.

 

 Obtaining the results

 

To get all necessary information about the factors influencing antur population, The Commander Islands Nature and Biosphere Reserve sent an application for a WWF grant. The project’s budget is 997 000 roubles. It includes all expanses on transportation of two biologists-volunteers, on three modern trail cameras specially designed for difficult usage environment, on repairs of scientific bases to house the scientists, on environmental education and other issues.

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Antur before jumping into the water. Photo by Ivan Rybakov

“We do not have enough data on seasonal and daily dynamics of population size and on antur behavior on their haulouts. The best way to get this information is to install trail cameras. Our colleagues from KB PIG have a huge experience in using such cameras to monitor sea lion activity. We are going to invite volunteers to receive and process the data. They will have a unique working experience in field conditions, a chance to help rare animals and use modern technologies,” said Evgeny Mamaev, Deputy Director for Science of the Commander Islands Nature and Biosphere Reserve.

 

Anastasiia Kuznetsova, Director of the Reserve, said that it is particularly important to involve young specialists in helping marine mammals.

 

“One of the main goals of The Commander Islands Nature and Biosphere Reserve personnel policy is to show future scientists the specific character of their job and to help them choose their path. It is essential to take a fresh look at the today’s problems of scientific community, that is why we need to engage young people,” said A. Kuznetsova.

 

Another important issue is environmental education. The future of our planet and all the species, including us, depends on the attitude of common people. Sometimes it may be difficult for people to understand it, but we are sure that it is an evident idea for children, who attend classes of our Environmental Education Department.

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Sea Of Life festival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Children love anturs. Photo by Anna Strokan

Today we have no special classes about anturs but it is a popular theme. Children really like these animals – their behavior with glances out of water and funny boat-like pose on land. It is a great idea to tell children more about this flower seal,” said Anna Strokan, Senior Specialist of Environmental Education Department of the Commander Islands Nature and Biosphere Reserve.

Friends, keep your fingers crossed! For more information about processing of our application in WWF, please, visit our pages in social networks and our web site.

Заповедная Россия English

Заповедная Россия English