Branded Sea Lion?

[gpb11]

Sorting through my photos and ran across one from our Kenai Fjords tour that shows what looks like a sea lion that's been branded with "E207" or "E107" -- the animal is in the shadows in the upper-right of the image.

 

Am I misunderstanding what I'm seeing? If not, I'm curious who does this and why?

 

[Budget Queen]

http://www.alaskasealife.org/science_research_overview

[gpb11]

http://www.alaskasealife.org/science_research_overview

 

Thanks, though I'm seeing nothing on that page regarding branding sea lions. Could you clarify please?

[NoobCruise]

This is just one example of why. They use branding to track for many reasons, from research, to tracking specific trouble-makers. We have a few in Monterey branded because they keep damaging property on the docks and may be aggressive to humans.

 

http://www.orcanetwork.org/marinemammals/sealionsightings.html

Edited July 24, 2016 by NoobCruise

[NoobCruise]

More info

 

http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/protected_species/marine_mammals/pinnipeds/brandingq_a.pdf

[gpb11]

Thanks, NoobCruise.

 

I honestly can't say I'm entirely on-board with branding to that degree, but presumably there are those involved with far more knowledgable of the effects.

[Budget Queen]

Thanks, though I'm seeing nothing on that page regarding branding sea lions. Could you clarify please?

 

Contact them directly.

[RebekahJP]

On 7/24/2016 at 12:35 PM, gpb11 said:

Sorting through my photos and ran across one from our Kenai Fjords tour that shows what looks like a sea lion that's been branded with "E207" or "E107" -- the animal is in the shadows in the upper-right of the image.

 

Am I misunderstanding what I'm seeing? If not, I'm curious who does this and why?

 

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj574/gpb11/160605-3139_DxO_zpsswmddnbm.jpg

 I have a photo of the same sea lion. Taken just a couple weeks ago on the Marine Mammals boat tour in Kenai Fyords. Ended up here looking for info about him/her just like you were. Did you ever find out anything?

[wolfie11]

2 hours ago, RebekahJP said:

 I have a photo of the same sea lion. Taken just a couple weeks ago on the Marine Mammals boat tour in Kenai Fyords. Ended up here looking for info about him/her just like you were. Did you ever find out anything?

E107 is a male and was branded as a pup in 2007 at the Chiswell Islands, which are near Seward.  He’s 17 years old, which makes him a senior citizen in male sea lion years.

[RebekahJP]

53 minutes ago, wolfie11 said:

E107 is a male and was branded as a pup in 2007 at the Chiswell Islands, which are near Seward.  He’s 17 years old, which makes him a senior citizen in male sea lion years.

Wow, thanks! That's interesting! How did you find that out? I couldn't track him down on Google.

[wolfie11]

8 hours ago, RebekahJP said:

Wow, thanks! That's interesting! How did you find that out? I couldn't track him down on Google.

I’m a marine biologist.  I worked on a similar project and knew where the data was. 😁