Video link above can now be viewed below

For other video links see below

www.lajollaharborseals.net



Documentary links on pre-production topics:

https://youtu.be/HbK3lCXLpR8  Seal and sea lion underwater behavior showing a preview of scenes from the full length documentary, "Sentinels of the Sea". 

https://youtu.be/V4I1S6kbbSo   (former) HSUS (Humane Society of the United States expert) interview excerpt about ocean noise and habitat issues. More topics will be covered.

https://youtu.be/Bfw2oR3KWGk   Birth of a harbor seal pup (warning: graphic)

https://youtu.be/8JTie25wgtE   Release of rehabilitated sea lions on a beach

https://youtu.be/qhPtKaXCHPk   Mother and pup footage and information about mother and pup behavior. Older footage but important scenes.

https://youtu.be/EGOe4yZjcxI  Mother and baby sea lion

This website will be providing information about seals and sea lions, and about the documentary in production, "Sentinels of the Sea".

Please contact us about educational programs and media available. Presentations can be set up for your classroom, zoom presentations,  and other venues and events.

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La Jolla Harbor Seals and other wildlife: ( scroll down for documentary information)

La Jolla is home to a unique colony of harbor seals at Casa Beach.  Harbor seals are "true seals", or "phocids", meaning that they have no external ear flaps, have short flippers, and move with an inching motion on land; they are fast and agile in the water.  By contrast, sea lions are "eared seals", with external ear flaps, and with  large flippers,  and they "walk" on land.

Phocids swim by propelling themselves with their back flippers, and steering with their front flippers.  Sea lions use their large front flippers to propel themselves.  Leopard seals, a type of phocid, appear to "undulate" in the water as well. Northern elephant seals have amazing physiological capabilities that allow them to dive to depths of nearly a mile. The abilities of these animals to spend extensive time underwater will be explored in the film.

Harbor seals need to "haul out" on to a land surface on a daily or regular basis.  During pupping season, they also give birth, typically to a single pup.  At this time, the "haulout site"  is also a "rookery site".  Not all haulout sites are rookery sites. Harbor seal pupping season takes place at different times of the year depending upon latitude. Harbor seals are only seen in the Northern Hemisphere.  

It is important to allow the seals and their pups to rest without disturbance. Mothers and pups need  to bond without disturbance. This is essential to the survival of the pup.   

The impact of disturbance on harbor seals has been studied extensively by scientists.  Close proximity of people and other disturbing factors can cause many effects ranging from altered site usage to increased pup mortality to other effects.  Precise factors such as boat traffic near haul out sites, and other exact factors have been studied.  Additionally, although seals will flush or move when disturbed in many cases, in other cases, they may not have the option to move if a suitable haulout location is not available.  

The 2021 pupping season for harbor seals in the San Diego area has begun.  Seals can be viewed from safe locations, without disturbing the animals.  More than 20 new pups have been born so far this season.

"Nose-pressing"tm © is the behavior of nose touching and pressing that serve as bonding and greeting behaviors for seal pups and mothers. "Physiological scuba gear" tm © and "Anatomical scuba gear" tm © are additional terms created to describle features of pinniped behavior and biology details.

Although the gestation period for harbor seals is between nine and eleven months, the pups only remain with the mother for four to six weeks.  During this time, they need to learn about the ocean environment, how to swim and dive, and other survival skills. The pups must develop and maintain a strong bond with their mothers, as they need nutrition from the mother that will allow them to gain weight, so that they can be successfully weaned and survive on their own.   It is important for mothers and pups to not be disturbed during this critical time.

A single pup is typically born to a harbor seal mother. She raises it with great care and attention for this four to six week period before it is weaned. Pupping season is between December and May at this latitude.  It is later in the year in more northern locations.

The haul out period for harbor seals is necessary for them to rest, thermo-regulate, re-oxygenate their blood, and for additional functions including pup rearing and molting. 

The harbor seals must rest, thermoregulate, re-oxygenate their blood, and perform other essential functions while hauled out on land. In a sense, they are filling their "physiological scuba gear" tm ©  with oxygen while hauled out on land, in preparation for swimming underwater and diving in their next trip into the ocean.

Their unique anatomy and physiology allows them to manage gases and to perform other functions while in the water, and helps to facilitate sustained dives and time spent underwater.

As the summer approaches, following the pupping season, continued access to the haul out site without disturbance is always essential for the seals.  Newly weaned pups need to rest, and the annual molt for adults also creates a need for time on land. 

When seals are disturbed in their haulout and rookery areas, they may exhibit  (1) a head alert, an indication that there is a concern in the area, (2) displacement (moving from their original location), or (3) a flush or stampede into the water. They may suffer other impacts as well.

Some researchers use a different term for the action of harbor seals moving toward the water, but not yet flushing, in association with a disturbing situation; "displacement" generally refers to the situation of an animal being impacted by a stimulus to the extent that it moves from its initial position.  Disturbance can impact harbor seals, even when they do not outwardly display this.  They may also avoid or vary their behavior of returning to an area to haul out (altered site usage), and other impacts may take place. 

See the Documentary page for updates and producer information on the full length feature documentary in production.  

The Sierra Club online Magazine and Sealwatch.org support this documentary.  The film also features expert interviews, with Sharon Young, Marine Mammal Issues Field Director with HSUS, a presentaton by Dr. Sylvia Earle, and will include presentations by conservation groups engaged in ocean debris removal and marine mammal rescue.  The work of specific NGO's in ocean conservation and marine mammal rescue will be featured. 



Sea Lions



Documentary synopsis:

Seals and Sea Lions are "Sentinels of the Sea" tm.  They are "pinnipeds", marine mammals with fur that must haul out onto land on a regular basis.  They live in two worlds, underwater and on land. They have many fascinating behaviors, are highly intelligent, and have special adaptations that allow them to remain underwater for extended periods of time even though they are air breathing animals.  They are "indicator" species that provide a reflection or barometer of many ocean and coastal conditions, and of factors affecting the health of these habitats. Many of these factors affect humans as well. Learn more about seals and sea lions as "sentinels" of ocean conditions in this upcoming production "Sentinels of the Sea" that is nearing completion.

Pinniped species from around the world will be featured, along with some whale species, and other ocean creatures, such as  manta rays, whale sharks, orcas, lemon sharks, and more.  Many of these species also reflect the impacts of human activity, some typically live in coastal areas, and all have fascinating life details. 

Expert interviews with pinniped specialists, presentations about ecology and conservation challenges, and more, will be included. The problems of "ghost gear", pollution, plastic marine debris, disturbance and harassment, ocean noise, boat strikes, and entanglement will be covered. Increasingly, the effects of plastic pollution, beached whales being found with stomachs full of trash, and other environmental impacts on ocean wildlife and habitats are being noted and brought to public awareness.

This documentary is being produced by an award winning filmmaker.  See film credits on documentary page.  This is a full length feature documentary.

This important documentary will bring together revealing details about these species, the many challenges that they face, and will provide a compelling visual experience and engagement.  Ultimately, their world is our world.

Rare and beautiful footage will be included, including RED ONE footage, and will depict playful seals and sea lions engaged in natural behaviors, mothers and pups on land, and many other species. The amazing rookery site at Casa beach, with world class views of mothers and pups, will be featured. Hawaiian Monk Seals swimming with manta rays, and sharks and orcas in their natural habitat will be presented with expert narration. 

Contact:    blueoceanmovie@yahoo.com with any questions and inquiries about an available Associate Producer role.

Information about the full length feature documentary in production, "Sentinels of the Sea", will be updated with an expected release date in 2021. 

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Ocean habitat issues and wildlife:  entanglement in fishing line

 Other debris concerns:

 plastic bags

 soda can rings

 ingested garbage

 strapping belts

 gill net

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 www.amazon.com/dp/B08VCH8QW5  Children's Book on Amazon

A short 25 minute informational documentary, "Seals and Sea Lions" is available for streaming, providing an in depth educational video.  It is suitable for individual viewing and classroom presentation and streaming. To order, please contact blueoceanmovie@yahoo.com

Sample video links:

https://vimeo.com/167015231

https://vimeo.com/173782805

https://vimeo.com/150112641   

 Please note that all content on the website is copyright protected and/or trademark protected.  Use of any teaching modules, incuding all content, is available by licence only.  E Stanton, lecturer at Mensa, STEM series, and more, has characterized and named several specific behaviors and behavioral concepts with regard to harbor seals. This includes the designations " nose-pressing" and "physiological scuba gear". 

Please contact us at

                blueoceanmovie@yahoo.com             

Website by nature film award winner, STEM lecturer, and pinniped specialist 

all images subject to copyright protection and may not be copied, downloaded, shared, or  reproduced without written permission