Arctic melting may help parasites infect new hosts

Grey seals are encountering a killer microbe as they move north

NEW NEIGHBORS As the Arctic emerges from a deep freeze, parasites including Sarcocystis pinnipedi (shown, purple) are able to infect animals that they had never encountered before. M. Grigg

CHICAGO— Along with melting Arctic ice comes an erosion of natural barriers that once separated parasites from hosts.

That erosion has allowed at least two pathogens to infect marine mammals they were previously unknown in, said Michael Grigg, a molecular parasitologist at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. He reported the findings February 13 at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

A newly identified parasite was once frozen safely away from grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). It has now infected some with disastrous consequences. In 2012, about 20 percent of healthy-looking grey seal pups born on Hay Island in Hudson Bay mysteriously died. The cause turned out to be a parasite that destroyed the livers of 404 pups and two adults, Grigg said.

ORIGINAL: Science News

by Tina Hesman Saey
February 14, 2014 

The Seals Of Nam - End the seal hunt in Namibia!

ORIGINAL: Avaaz

Wonderful Francois Hugo, who all by himself tries to save a species, the seals of Namibia..

60,000

61,696

61,696 people have signed. Help get to 60,000

Why this is important
On July 1st 2012, a quota of 85 000 Cape Fur seal pups are set to be beaten to death in Namibia. The pups are separated from their mothers. They are herded away from the safety of the sea where they are then beaten to death with pick handles. They are stabbed in the throat, often while still alive.

We can beat this cruelty!

A further quota of 6 000 adult bull seals will be set. These are to be shot at point blank range so that their genitals can be exported to the East where they are used to make ineffective sex potions for the Asian Market.

You can help put an end to this!

Aside from the cruelty aspect, an independent report shows that seal viewing based ecotourism in Namibia will yield three hundred times more revenue than the massacre and will create a wealth of job opportunities in a country desperate for employment.

This is not just about animals, but people too!!

Cape Fur Seals are a threatened species. They have suffered massive habitat loss, several mass die offs and they are listed on Appendix II of the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. (CITES)

With Namibia facing mounting public outcry and increasing consumer boycotts, we the undersigned are urging the Hon. Minister Bernard Esau to immediately end the annual bloodbath, protect the seals with effective new legislation and to allow all Namibians to benefit from this magnificent tourist drawcard.

Please sign and share this petitions. Time is running out and thousands of baby seals are going to beaten to death!

For more info refer to The Seals Of Nam website http://www.sites.google.com/site/thesealsofnam/

Or find us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/TheSealsOfNam

Thank you for your support.

The Seals Of Nam

Video Original: http://blueseals.org/index/mission2/32

Support Canadian Senator Mac Harb's Bill to End the Commercial Seal Slaughter

ORIGINAL: HumaneSociety

Closure of the international demand for seal products means that the end of the Canadian commercial seal slaughter is inevitable.

But we need to act now to save the tens of thousands of baby seals that are still killed every year with Canadian taxpayer-funded government subsidies.

We need you to voice your support for Canadian Senator Mac Harb's legislation to end the slaughter. Tell the Canadian Senate you support this forward-looking, compassionate and pragmatic initiative.

Termine la demanda internacional de productos hechos con piel de foca. Apoye la ley presentada por el senador Marc Herb de Canadá con el fin de terminar con la matanza comercial de focas recién nacidas AQUÍ

Seal Survivor

ORIGINAL: Humane Society

Make your emergency gift to protect seals
This seal's name is Survivor—he was one of the lucky ones who escaped the brutal seal hunt—but thousands of other baby seals are being slaughtered off the coast of Newfoundland—shot, stabbed, skinned—all for their fur.

Despite the fact that global markets for seal skins are closing for good, a provincial Canadian government paid $3.6 million to stockpile seal skins from this year's slaughter. Please, help stop the killing once and for all by making an emergency donation to protect seals.

Your gift today keeps us on the ice so we can report on the fate of these beautiful animals -- like Survivor -- and it will keep us fighting all year long to finally end the slaughter.

We can't do it without you. Please make an emergency donation to protect seals today using the secure form below.

Secure.HumaneSociety.org

Tell Canada's Prime Minister: Call Off the Slaughter

ORIGINAL: Humane Society

Climate change is destroying sea ice, causing a high mortality rate for newborn seals.

Yet the Canadian government has set a reckless kill quota of 400,000 seals this year and government funds are being used to finance the purchase of seal skins.

It's appalling that Canadian commercial fishermen have the green light to slaughter what few pups have managed to survive the melting ice beneath them.

TAKE ACTION

In just days, the commercial seal slaughter will begin in earnest off the coast of Newfoundland. Please tell Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper to call off the slaughter right now. Be sure to edit your message so it stands out.

Live in Canada? Click here to take this action»