Richard Collins: From the brink of extinction, northern elephant seal population rises to 225,000

Experts say the population was likely reduced to fewer than 25 animals at the start of the 20th century. Inbreeding still threatens its survival, but all is not lost

Elephant seals were slaughtered mercilessly for their oil. The decline of the northern tribe has been particularly catastrophic. However, with the the care of dedicated conservationists, numbers have risen to 225,000.  Picture: Piedras Blancas, California

Dublin Zoo acquired an elephant seal in 1965. Its sojourn here, however, was not an entirely happy one. According to Catherine de Courcy, in her book  Dublin Zoo an Illustrated History, the new arrival seemed not to take to his new home. He went on strike for six weeks initially. Then he changed tack, opting for an opposite strategy; eating the Zoo out of house and home. He gorged himself on 30 kilograms of fish each day. Thankfully, An Bord Iascaigh Mhara came to the rescue, picking up the food tab for the expensive guest. In gratitude, the keepers named the seal ‘BIM’.

Bim, the elephant seal, being fed by Zoo electrician and maintenance man Tom McGrath, in a picture specially posed for The Irish Times. The picture is taken from ‘Dublin Zoo: An Illustrated History’ by Catherine de Courcy