Abnormal mortality of elephant seals on an island in the Crozet archipelago

Abnormal mortality is currently being observed in several elephant seal colonies on Possession Island in the Crozet archipelago, the prefecture of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Taaf) said on Monday.

“The first observations carried out in the field reveal probable contamination by a pathogen of influenza origin”notes the prefecture in a press release.

Samples were taken from a sample of animals, “in accordance with the protocols provided by the SAGIR network, in charge of monitoring the health of vertebrate terrestrial wildlife at the national level” details the Taaf prefecture.

The samples will be transported by boat to Reunion Island at the beginning of next week. They will then be sent for analysis to the national reference laboratory of the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety in Ploufragan (Côtes d’Armor).

Pending the results of these analyzes and as a precaution, the prefecture has decided to limit access to the areas concerned. “only operations necessary to monitor the situation or linked to district security”.

Biosecurity rules, already in force in the district, are also reinforced.

“At this stage, no suspicious mortality has been detected in wildlife in other Taaf districts,” concludes the prefecture.