The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is calling on members of the public to join the growing number of citizen scientists doing their bit to track the location of South Australian sea lion populations.
Announcing the release of the Sea lion Spotter app on International Seal Day (22 March), NPWS said citizen scientists could help South Australia’s west coast sea lions from the comfort of their own homes.
Marine Park Ranger for NPWS, Dirk Holman said the app, developed by NPWS Eyre and Far West district in partnership with Phillip Island Nature Parks, had been built to help researchers learn more about endangered sea lion populations and the reasons behind their ongoing decline.
Mr Holman said the easy-to-use web portal gave everyone the opportunity to play their part by remotely participating in population surveys of sea lion colonies off the State’s west coast.
“Tracking populations is a time-consuming task for rangers, so by having citizen scientists gather data on populations, and tracking the birth of new pups, we’ll have information more rapidly analysed to help monitor the health of the colonies,” he said.
“It also gives participants an opportunity to ‘peer in’ to a breeding colony and observe behaviours of animals that are largely out of sight and mind for most people.”
Research and operations coordinator at Seal Bay for NPWS, Melanie Stonnill said along with the west coast colonies, Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island was a stronghold for Australian sea lions, and was about to enter pupping season.
Ms Stonnill said this season’s first pup at the Seal Bay colony was due any day.
Anyone interested in becoming a citizen scientist can find further information at this PS News link.
