Human Impact Leads To the Extinction of Caribbean Monk Seal
posted in Animal Species |Federal Officials of US Government have officially declared Caribbean Monk Seal extinct. This declaration was made after a five years of efforts to find sightings of West Indian Seal. They also announced that this is the only seal species to extinct due to human causes.
Native of Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, West Indian Seal or Caribbean Monk Seal is the sole subtropical seal. It is believed that since last 50 years this species of seal has not been sighted even once. Last it was seen in 1952 at Seranilla Bank, between Jamaica and the Yucatan Peninsula.
Kyle Baker, Biologist, National Marine Fisheries Service, said: “Humans left the Caribbean monk seal population unsustainable after over-hunting them. Unfortunately, this led to their demise and labels the species as the only seal to go extinct from human causes.”
In 1967 United States included this seal species in endangered species list. Now the fisheries services will remove Caribbean Monk Seal from the list. It is believed that during the second voyage of Columbus in 1494, Caribbean Monk Seal were first discovered. This species of seal were exploited extensively during the European colonization mainly for their blubber, zoological collection, food and scientific studies.
The blubber so obtained from the seal was processed for the production of oil. This oil was used for lubrication, as cooking and lamp oil and coating the bottom of boats. Its skin was used to make trunk linings, bags, straps and articles of clothing.
Biologists Word on Caribbean Monk Seal Extinction:
The other two monk seal species: Mediterranean and Hawaiian are already endangered and at a risk of extinction. The population of these two species has reduced to 500 and 1200 individuals respectively. Baker said: “Worldwide, populations of the two remaining monk seal species are declining. We hope we’ve learned from the extinction of Caribbean monk seals, and can provide stronger protection for their Hawaiian and Mediterranean relatives.”
Bud Antonelis, NMFS Biologist said: “The Hawaiian monk seal is a treasure to preserve for future generations. The fisheries service has developed a monk seal recovery plan, but we need continued support from organizations and the public if we are to have a chance at saving it from extinction. Time is running out.”
Vicki Cornish, Ocean Conservancy said: “The fate of the Caribbean monk seal is a wake-up call for us to act quickly to protect other endangered monk seal populations. We must learn from our mistakes. We must act now to reduce threats to existing monk seal populations before it’s too late. These animals are important to the balance and health of the ocean — we can’t afford to wait.”
Climatic Impact:
According to Ocean Conservancy some of the climatic changes have contributed in the extinction of monk seal species. Climatic changes mainly include debris and erosion, El Nino weather pattern and the rising sea levels. Ocean Conservancy said: “El Nino events, which cause storms similar to those expected to occur with increasing frequency as a result of climate change, drive marine debris closer to monk seal beaches and near-shore waters.” It further added and said: “Seal pups play with trash, which can lead to entanglement and eventual death. Increased numbers of Hawaiian monk seals have been found entangled in marine debris after El Nino events.”