Elephant seal pup born on Cassino Beach in Rio Grande do Sul

A southern elephant seal pup (Mirounga leonina) was born on Cassino Beach in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul. This event is considered extremely rare for the Brazilian coast, marking the first documented birth of this species in the state and only the third recorded in Brazil.

Environmental teams from the National Center for Environmental Education and Monitoring (Nema) and the Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center (CRAM) at the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG) are monitoring the mother and pup. The area has been cordoned off to prevent human interference during the nursing period.

At 15 days old, the pup is showing natural developmental changes, such as its fur transitioning from black to silvery-grey tones. During the nursing phase, the pup can gain up to five kilograms per day, while the mother relies on her own energy reserves to produce milk, often losing significant weight in the process. The mother is expected to remain on the beach for approximately one more week before returning to the sea to feed.