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CLASSIFIED Monday 16 SepteMber 2019
US biologists eye unusual deaths HEALTH

of Alaska ice seals DOCTOR ON DUTY

Oranjestad
By DAN JOLING FOR SALE Hospital 7:00 pm / 10:00pm
Associated Press Divi Studio Tel. 527 4000
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) wk 35 8/31 dutch Village rm 128 San Nicolas
— Seals that rely on sea buy $1,995 IMSAN 24 Hours
ice off Alaska's northwest divi Golf wk 35 8/31, unit 4201, Tel.524 8833
start $1,995
coast have been dying at Women in Difficulties
uncommon rates, and fed- e-mail: rmwjmw@aol.com PHARMACY ON DUTY
or call 508-651-0016
eral marine mammal biolo-
gists Thursday declared an _________________________________211687 Oranjestad:
del Pueblo Tel. 582 1253
"unusual mortality event." San Nicolas:
The cause of death for Aloe Tel. 584 4606
nearly 300 ringed, bearded Women in Difficulties
and spotted seals since OTHER
June 1, 2018, is not known, Dental Clinic 587 9850
according to the fisheries Blood Bank Aruba 587 0002
arm of the National Oce- This undated photo provided by the U.S. National Park Service Urgent Care 586 0448
anic and Atmospheric shows a dead seal found on a beach near Kotzebue, Alaska. Walk-In Doctor’s Clinic
+297 588 0539
Administration, the man- Associated Press Women in Difficulties
agement agency for the EMERGENCY
marine mammals. significant die-off and de- ter until they have grown a Police 100
"We're looking at a broad mand an immediate re- blubber layer. Oranjestad 527 3140
spectrum of possible sponse. The declaration Spotted seals are medium- Noord 527 3200
causes and trying to rule allows the agency to focus size seals with light coats Sta. Cruz 527 2900
out what we can and nar- resources on an investiga- and dark spots. They often San Nicolas 584 5000
row it down," NOAA Fish- tion. are found at the outer mar- Police Tipline 11141
eries spokeswoman Julie Bearded seals get their gins of shifting ice floes. Ambulancia 911
115
Fire Dept.
Speegle said. name from short snouts NOAA Fisheries also de- Red Cross 582 2219
Viruses, bacteria and al- covered with thick, long, clared an unusual mortality
gal blooms are possible white whiskers. Bearded event following abnormal TAXI SERVICES
causes. Water tempera- seals give birth and rear molting and deaths of ice Taxi Tas 587 5900
ture in the northern Bering pups on drifting pack ice. seals and walruses from Prof. Taxi 588 0035
Sea and the Chukchi Sea Ringed seals are the small- 2011 to 2016. A definitive Taxi D.T.S. 587 2300
the last two summers have est of Alaska's ice seals and cause was not identified. Taxi Serv. Aruba 583 3232
been higher than normal. are the main prey of polar But biologists don't believe A1 Taxi Serv. 280 2828
The agency is looking at bears. They get their name that event, marked by ani- Women in Difficulties
possible ecosystem influ- from small, light-colored mals with hair loss and skin TRAVEL INFO
ences, including dimin- circles on their coats. lesions, is connected to the Aruba Airport 524 2424
ished sea ice, Speegle said. Ringed seals are the only current event. The agency American Airlines 582 2700
Alaska Native coastal com- seals that thrive in com- estimated that 657 seals Avianca 588 0059
munities hunt all three seals pletely ice-covered Arc- were affected over those Jet Blue 588 2244
for meat and hides as part tic waters. They use strong six years. Surinam 582 7896
of a subsistence life. claws to maintain breath- Ringed seals and some
NOAA Fisheries received ing holes in thick ice and populations of bearded Women in Difficulties
reports of 282 dead seals, give birth in lairs dug in seals are listed as threat- CRUISES
almost five times more snow that accumulates ened species because of
than the average number on top of ice. Young pups the loss of sea ice due to
of reported strandings, ac- cannot survive in cold wa- climate warming. q
cording to the agency. The
count included 85 beard- September 17
ed seals, 66 ringed seals, 40 Celebrity equinox
spotted seals and 91 seals September 18
that were not identified. Monarch
Women in Difficulties
The deaths occurred over Carnival Magic
all age groups. The deaths AID FOUNDATIONS
both years occurred mostly FAVI- Visually Impaired
from June to September. Tel. 582 5051
Some stranded seals were Alcoholics Anonymous
missing fur or were skinnier Tel. 736 2952
than normal, but the time Narcotics Anonymous
between death and dis- Tel. 583 8989
covery of a carcass hinder Women in Difficulties
investigators. Tel. 583 5400
"Many of the seals have Centre for Diabetes
been pretty badly decom- Tel. 524 8888
posed so it's been hard to Child Abuse Prevention
Tel. 582 4433
identify exactly what the
fat layer is," Speegle said. Quota Club Tel. 525 2672
Women in Difficulties
Federal law defines an un- General Info
usual mortality event as Phone Directory Tel. 118
strandings that involve a