MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A week in October is annually celebrated as National Marine Week but in Mossel Bay, the whole month of October is dedicated to the diverse and amazing marine life that surround us.
Unfortunately, October started off with the beached humpback whale near Glentana. Strandings cause much sadness among nature lovers, but present an opportunity for scientists to study these huge ocean dwellers and to gather much-need scientific data.
Seal seeks help
A truly remarkable feel-good incident also happened about two weeks ago when an adult female Cape fur seal was found at the Shark Lab Aquarium at the Point.
When staff member Renchi Louw opened the back door, the seal sat there staring at her with no aggression at all.
Renchi is also a member of Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (S.M.A.R.T.) and after establishing that the seal had no serious injury and simply needed rest, the area was cordoned off and the seal left to rest.
Later, when it turned on to its other side, bite marks which have become infected, could be seen and local vet Dr Frans de Graaff was called on to administer antibiotics and treat the wounds.
The seal, fondly named Lola by the aquarium staff, still showed no aggression and after the treatment was done, she moved into another position and fell asleep.
Dr Frans de Graaff, treating the infected wounds of Lola. Photo: Tersia Marais
S.M.A.R.T. members kept an eye on her and she went back to the ocean early the next morning.
All involved were sure that Lola came to the aquarium to seek help!
Penguins released
The Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre (SAPREC) experienced an extremely busy couple of months as many African penguins were found stranded on beaches around Mossel Bay.
At one stage, it was thought there might be an epidemic outbreak of some sort at the African penguin colonies but fortunately this was not the case.
The birds suffered from different diseases and injuries such as Avian malaria, bite marks and pneumonia.
They were all successfully treated at the centre and six were released, healthy and fit, back into the ocean last week.
Five of the six penguins that were released.
At the centre in Mossdustria, all the resident birds are in various stages of moulting and according to Carol Walton, the centre is filled with feathers!
The African penguin's feathers are important for keeping them warm and dry while they are in the cold sea water.
The feathers may wear or even break and in order to replace these feathers, penguins go through a moult, in which their old feathers are pushed out and replaced by new ones.
Moulting is a three-stage process and starts weeks before the feathers are actually replaced.
First they gorge themselves on fish to increase the body weight to endure the second stage.
Penguins are not waterproof while moulting and stay on land for two to three weeks, fasting, until their new feathers emerge.
During this time they might also go in what is called an arrested moult, in which they do not have insufficient body resources to complete the moult.
The third stage involves returning to the sea to replenish the lost weight.
When in moult and especially when an arrested moult occurs, the penguins end up on our local beaches. When found contact Carol Walton (082 364 3382).
Oceans Research staff taking measurements and collecting much-needed scientific data drom the humpback whale which beached near Glentana. Photo: Tersia Marais
Awareness
If any marine animal is found in distress on our local beaches, please call S.M.A.R.T. (072 227 4715).
ARTICLE: TERSIA MARAIS, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER CORRESPONDENT
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