It is day 3 and no one has taken an interest in the high protein placenta!  The pup is starting to fill out its oversized birthday suit. It is also settling down better after feeding. For the two days it was twitchy and now it is moving on to squirmy, exploring it is body parts and rolling on its back.  It still seems to be itchy and scratches often.

I have been asked to take daily pictures of the mom and pup from the front, back and side so a Pearson student can document the transformation of mom and pup from birth through to weaning.

The transformation is a shocking one. During the nursing period of up to 28 days the mother does not eat. The milk she produces comes from her reserves and for every pound the pup gains, she loses two pounds (see source). By the end she will have lost 40% of her body weight. She will leave the fat little pup behind and head back to the sea to regain her weight.  I won’t be here then but Cedric will have lots of fun watching the pup explore the island and learn how to swim.

I searched through old posts and found these two photos taken by Courtney Edwards on her January 13, 2022 post. They nicely illustrate the weight transfer from mom to pup.

Visitors

14 students, the marine biology instructor and two seafront staff were on the island today.

Facility work

• battery fluid top up
• getting firewood
• reorganizing our basement firewood pile into to wet and less wet
• started on kindling

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 1
• Private: 2

Weather

Skies mostly overcast. Light northeasterly breeze. Daytime temperature 4 to 5 degrees.