Automatic camera traps in the Kronotsky State Nature Reserve and South Kamchatka Sanctuary have recorded positive trends in the populations of red-listed pinnipeds.
An analysis of tens of thousands of photographs, conducted by Vladimir Burkanov, a pinniped expert for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and a member of the Council for Marine Mammals, revealed an increase in the birth rate of Steller sea lions (also known as syvuchi) between July 2023 and September 2024. These endemic inhabitants of the North Pacific are listed in the Red Data Book of Russia.
“At the Kozlov Stone rookery, the sole reproductive site for Steller sea lions off the Kamchatka coast, approximately 100 pups have been born annually over the past five years. This marks an improvement compared to the preceding decade, when the birth rate ranged from 80 to 100 individuals,” the reserve stated.
The total Steller sea lion population at Kozlov Stone is estimated at 400 individuals. Additionally, Utashud Island in Vestnik Bay hosts a mixed rookery of spotted seals (also red-listed) and harbor seals, with their combined numbers reaching up to 600 individuals.
The use of camera traps for monitoring allows scientists to collect accurate data on the status of these rare species` populations, which is crucial for developing effective conservation measures.
The Steller sea lion, also known as Steller`s northern sea lion, is the largest member of the eared seal family and the sole extant species in its genus. Mature males can reach up to 350 cm in length and weigh between 500 and 1000 kg. Females are considerably smaller, with lengths up to 260 cm and an average weight of 350 kg. Their habitat ranges from the Kuril Islands to Central California, encompassing the Okhotsk Sea, Kamchatka, Sakhalin, the Commander and Aleutian Islands, Alaska, and the North American coast. Although not classified as immediately endangered, Steller sea lions are a protected species. They are listed under category EN A1b in the IUCN Red List, signifying a risk of endangerment in the near future. In the Russian Red Data Book, they are classified under category two. Their population in Russia has sharply declined since the 1970s.
