First healthy pup born at La Jolla Casa Beach
January 23, 2012 – 2:27 pmJanuary 23, 2012
First healthy baby of the 2012 season was born last night at Casa Beach, see the first fuzzy pic I took in the rain before 9 am this morning. Born prematurely, possibly due to stress from encroachment into the rookery, baby seal is tiny, but noses with its mom and will probably be fine. Andrea named the baby seal “Miracle”.
A miracle indeed after enormous level of harassment La Jolla seals suffer from the spear fishing lobby and five prematurely born pups that didn’t make it between November and January.
Video of baby Miracle by Andrea Hahn
Seal advocates gathered at the Children’s Pool yesterday with signs encouraging people not to go onto the beach where pregnant seals are resting. Meanwhile, a small group of “open beach” advocates set up tables and umbrellas, and a large “open” flag, on the seals’ side of the rope to encourage encroachment into the rookery.
Anti-seal/pro beach access advocates including tie-dye t-shirt vendors have been all served lawsuits: our complaint alleges several violations of the Business and Professional Code, including failure to pay workers’ compensation, payroll taxes and violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The City Council voted 6-2 to close the rookery during pupping season in 2010, but the mayor’s office has yet to implement the resolution, claiming lack of funds for permits. However, the mayor did fund the ranger program sought by Sherri Lightner, despite the fact that it was supposed to be privately funded. The ranger has no authority to enforce the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act and is officially there to ensure beach access, according to the San Diego Foundation 2011 report.
Happy Pupping Season!
Dorota
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