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In 2012 Oceans of Fun joined in a collaboration with the Chicago Zoological Society, Saint Louis Zoo, Kansas City Zoo and the Punta San Juan Project of the Center for Environmental Sustainability at Cayetano Heredia University to collect baseline data assisting in evaluating the South American sea lion and Peruvian fur seal populations in Punta San Juan. Collecting baseline data provides us the opportunity to study disease, toxicant exposure, reproductive success, population stability, population genetics and overall population resilience to external threats the animals are facing in the wild today.  Following El Nino in 1997/1998 the Peruvian fur seal population met a severe decline.  Currently these population numbers within the protection of the National Reserve are rebounding providing researchers the ability to study the effects of environmental influences.  As a top predator, seals and sea lions provide indicators as to environmental conditions and the overall health of our oceans.  

This year we are expanding our research project to study pup growth and development with the goal of correlating and comparing data obtained in both wild and captive animals.  Life in the wild is increasingly challenging for many animals due to environmental changes and destruction, habitat encroachment, over fishing and pollution. Through data collection and analysis we are able to gain knowledge about animal needs, behavior, and survival. Punta San Juan in a marine protected area allowing for enhanced species and ecosystem protection.  Being a key rookery for the South American sea lion and endangered Peruvian fur seal, this area offers the ability to study diverse populations of animals year round providing valuable information on species sustainability . 

Oceans of Fun is honored and excited to play a key role in the development of research projects which we hope will provide us information on pup development, behavior and survival both with wild and captive populations.  This week will be filled with animals, data collection and valuable experiences.  

Preparation for this trip begins well in advance planning-wise.  We are living in a field house with limited water and electricity.  Temperatures are variable throughout the day and packing includes everything from shorts/tanks to coat/warm pants.  Packing must include bedding, headlamps, hiking boots, sunscreen, candles, bug spray, etc, etc.....  The journey is lengthy, starting with an 8 hour flight into Lima, Peru.  Upon arrival, our team unites and field supplies are purchased.  Part two of our travel then occurs as this year we took an elite overnight bus, Excluciva (Civa) from Lima to Marcona where we were then met and transferred to the Reserve.  Arriving at 6 AM today, the travel was well worth the investment in time.  Greeted by the calls of fur seal pups playing on the beach we couldn’t help but pause and smile at the natural beauty before us.  Our bunkered looks over the N-0 and N-1 beaches, home to between 400-500 pinnipeds this year, including over 100 pups which are currently playing in tide pools along the shoreline.  Today we get to enjoy the beauty of this land as we purchase our final supplies, prepare for the rest of our teams arrival, develop our plans and final parameters for data collection which will begin with animal observations.  We are ready to go!