Seals carrying what appear to be small yellow “hats” have been seen off the coasts of PEI, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, catching the eye of locals and researchers alike.
These uncommon “hats” are literally monitoring gadgets utilized in a scientific examine to observe seal motion, behaviors and habitat use.
Shawn Norman, a PEI resident, was one of many first to identify these tagged seals. “I couldn’t consider my eyes at first,” he mentioned. “I finished for a night espresso, on the telephone with my of us once I observed a seal popped its head up. It was nightfall so I zoomed in with my digital camera, that’s once I observed the tag on its head.”
Norman took some images together with his digital camera and shared them on-line, which rapidly gained a lot of consideration.
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After contacting the Division of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), he realized the seal was a part of a analysis program happening in Quebec.
The DFO confirmed the tags have been a part of a collaboration between their division and Universite de Sherbrooke.
Analysis scientist Xavier Bordeleau defined the aim of the tags, which embody each visible markers and transmitters that ship knowledge. “The gadgets give us details about the time they spend at sea and monitor the place they enterprise,” Bordeleau mentioned.
Final 12 months, the group used pink and yellow tags on 167 pups and recaptured 72 of them to trace their progress. In spring 2025, they plan to make use of orange and pink tags.
The tags are produced from light-weight plastic and are designed to attenuate the influence on the animals. “It’s fairly minimal intervention. It takes a few minutes to placed on and the tags usually fall off after just a few months,” Bordeleau defined, addressing issues about whether or not the gadgets hinder the seals pure habits.
“It’s not everlasting,” he added.
Tonya Wimmer, government director of the Marine Animal Response Society, highlighted the significance of the examine for conservation efforts. “It’s actually attention-grabbing to get a really feel of how a lot the ocean they really are utilizing, and I feel that’s fairly helpful when it comes to their very own safety and taking a look at how they use the habitat,” she mentioned.
The DFO encourages the general public to report any sightings of tagged seals, together with particulars just like the tag’s color, quantity, and the date and site of the sighting. “Public stories assist us collect much more knowledge and broaden our understanding,” Bordeleau mentioned.
These “little yellow hats” presents a singular glimpse into the lives of seals and the way they navigate the ocean, paving the best way for extra knowledgeable conservation and fishery efforts within the area.
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