Hi to all,

We are in the process of rescuing a hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) which stranded on 28 Sep 2005 in the Lesser Antillean island of Antigua in the northeastern Caribbean. The seal is a blue-pelt juvenile. This is the second seal found in Antigua (one in 2001), and the eleventh recorded in the Caribbean since 1992 (two in Puerto Rico, one in the Virgin Islands, one in Bermuda, two in Bahamas, one in Turks and Caicos, one in Anguilla, and one in St. Barthelemy).

We would like to alert all colleagues and government agency officials in the southeastern US and Caribbean countries to this situation and to request that any  sightings and strandings be documented thoroughly and reported to help assess  these unusual events.

The Caribbean Stranding Network is also available 24-hours  around the clock to assist anybody that finds a hooded seal in the Caribbean.   You may reach the Network by calling 787-399-1900 or 787-399-1903 or by email mignucci@caribe.net.

Additional Information:

• Mignucci-Giannoni AA, Odell DK.  2001. Tropical and subtropical Western Atlantic records of hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) dispel the myth of extant Caribbean monk seals (Monachus tropicalis). Bulletin of Marine Science 68(1):47-58.
• Mignucci-Giannoni AA, Haddow P. 2002. Wandering hooded seals. Science 295(5555):627-628.
  

Thanks,

Tony

Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni
Director
Red Caribeña de Varamientos € Caribbean Stranding Network
PO Box 361715 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-1715
EMAIL mignucci@caribe.net € WEB http://rcv.caribe.net