Wildlife Nation Exclusive Clip: The Power of Pinnipeds Join host Jeff Corwin on an epic adventure to the stunning coast of California to connect with the giants of the sea: elephant seals. Jeff works alongside conservationists fighting to protect
Join host Jeff Corwin on an epic adventure to the stunning coast of California to connect with the giants of the sea: elephant seals. Jeff works alongside conservationists fighting to protect elephant seal habitats, collects important data on elephant seal migration, and helps ensure the next generation of pups are thriving. Jeff learns about the powerful connection between elephant seal mothers and babies and discovers new information about their time in the open ocean. Later, Jeff works to bring three rescued sea lions back to their homes in the wild.
Video Transcript:
Jeff Corwin:
Today, we're on the coast of the Pacific ocean, near Los Angeles, California, helping conservationists save pinnipeds. Pinnipeds are the group of thin footed aquatic mammals that include seals, sea lions, fur seals, and walruses. Unfortunately, climate change, over fishing, and habitat laws have led to their decline. And other threats like fishing gear entanglements and ingesting plastic are on the rise. Thankfully, places like the Marine Mammal Care Center and organizations like Defenders of Wildlife are fighting to protect and rescue pinnipeds in trouble. This devoted team has given over 8,000 animals, a second chance at survival by providing critical medical treatment. I'm meeting up with hospital director, Dr. Lauren Palmer and Andy Johnson from Defenders of Wildlife.
Jeff Corwin:
So we have these four characters right here. These are California sea lion pups. Why are they here? What happened?
Dr. Lauren Palmer:
Well, these animals came in as malnourished pups a couple of months ago. One of these animals consumed this plastic bag. Fortunately, it didn't cause an obstruction.
Jeff Corwin:
Andy, plastics are a big obstacle to the survival of many animals, including sea lions.
Andrew Johnson:
They are. I mean, there's so much plastic in the ocean. And when these animals come across it, some of these animals might be starving. They'll ingest it. When these plastics are out there, they degrade in the ocean. The microplastics get into the food of the animal. So even if they don't ingest a bag, they're ingesting fish that has plastic in it.
Jeff Corwin:
This is a completely solvable problem, isn't it?
Andrew Johnson:
It's solvable, but we have to reduce our use of plastics, but it's a huge problem that it'll take a long time to fix.
Jeff Corwin:
But Andy, plastic trash is just one part of the challenge, isn't it?
Andrew Johnson:
Probably the biggest problem is climate change, so the warming of the oceans changes where the food that these animals need to survive goes. They have to travel farther to find it. And sometimes they starve. And that's why a lot of these animals are here.
Jeff Corwin:
But the good news, these four rambunctious, little pups were rescued. They're looking like they're ready to go. It's promising that freedom awaits, but we've got to do a little bit of an assessment.
Dr. Lauren Palmer:
We need to tag them and weigh them, get them out the door.
Jeff Corwin:
Andy I assist Dr. Palmer hurting these California sea line pumps into a squeeze box. This enclosure keeps the sea line stable and safe without having to anesthetize them. These pups get a quick weight before they're each given a flipper tag.
Andrew Johnson:
So with sea otters, we use a lot of different types of tags to identify the animal. What's the purpose of these tags with the sea lines?
Dr. Lauren Palmer:
Well, these tags provide a visual identification. And if the animal is sighted again at another location, then we can keep track of that. We know how far the animal has gone and went. Gives us an idea how well they do
Jeff Corwin:
These pups are looking healthy. Now it's time for the ultimate payoff. These four pups are going home.
Jeff Corwin:
Dr. Palmer, this moment right now, what we're about to do, this is what it's all about, isn't it?
Dr. Lauren Palmer:
It really is. It's a culmination of all the work we do. It's a culmination of the rescue, the rehabilitation, getting the animal better and returning them to their natural home.
Jeff Corwin:
So Andy, for you, your whole career has been about the conservation of marine mammals. What's this moment mean for you?
Andrew Johnson:
It's really important to provide actual care for these guys and get them back in the wild. They're extremely important to their ecosystem in the wild. They tell us a lot about that system and how healthy it is. We spend a lot of time doing science, doing all sorts of things, but these opportunities don't come along too often where we can help animals out, get them back in the wild. That's a really good story.
Jeff Corwin:
It never gets old to see creatures that were on the brink of survival, get a second chance. There ain't no going back there, buddy. Go on.
Dr. Lauren Palmer:
We're going to go... There you go. There you go.
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