So many worthwhile projects are pending funding, we can't stop now when we are making progress.
Saving marine mammals one species at a time
Did you know that marine mammals are subject to contaminants in their natural habitats? Veterinarians are trying to determine which poisonous or polluting substance is causing their health issues. By collecting marine mammal samples, we can answer those critical questions about our marine mammals' health. However, sample collection is tricky; storage of the organic matter before lab analysis is even more delicate, and validating the data has to be accurate.
Advancements in dried blood spot cards are identifying metabolic diseases. A single drop of blood is used for the cards and is excellent for storing and shipping. Now, veterinarians and biologists are utilizing these cards to detect levels of toxins in the grey seal.
A study funded by the Wild Animal Health Fund performed the analysis of results from the cards compared to that of whole blood to confirm that the results from the cards are valid. This study is the first to establish a baseline for marine pollutants in a healthy marine mammal population. Using these cards, sampling has become a lot simpler. This will protect marine mammals, including those grey seal pups!