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ADDITION TO TASK ORDER NO. 1

BASIC CONTRACT NO.

PROPOSED WORK DURING TEN MONTH PERIOD 23 April 1006 - 20 February 1067

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INTRODUCTION

1 Our proposed plan for research and development for the next ten months is described below in rive major task areas. However, the overall objective remains identical to last year's goal: that of being able to provide the client with rapid, flexible services in engineering, electronics. animal behavior, and operations analyses. New technical and biological developments will continue to be reviewed so that we can maintain a facility for answering and anticipating needs. In orcer to maximize the capability for meaningiul response and pisnning. it is proposed that the practice of periodic contacts between tie Technical Monitor and Task Leaders remain in effect, and increased where possible.

The five task areas are:

0 ad hoc consulting on special problems

o .í

oanimal capabilities

animal guidance

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A DOSSIER ON PIDIPEDS (SEALS)

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/A survey of pinnipeds (seals), was made to determine their ability to be trained, Information on their sensory abilities, physiology, and anatomy was also accumulated.

It was found that of all the kinds of pinnizeds, the sea lion (zalophus californicus) and the cormon harbor sea (Phoca vitulina) were the ones most easily trained. Other types were rejected becausa of appazent Lack of inteiligence, large size, or scarcity of the species.

Data on their abilities indicate that Zalophus is superior to Phoca in size, locomotion rate, strength, and ability to perfor certain circus-tyve t-icks. Phoca, on the other hand, is superior to zalophus in terms of ability to swin immediately upon being born, eats more omniverously (and less), and can probably swim faster. Phoca is reported to do a greater number of things because he is usually kept as a house pet while Zalophus usually performs more exacting routines in the circus or zoo. Both seem equally ·intelligent and scen to possess equal sensory abilities.

Both are readily available at the proper time of year. Zalophus costs about \$l0o (up) and Phoca \$25 (up). Maintenance costs for zalophús are correspondingly high.

SUEARY & CONCLUSIONS

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WHAT IS A 'SEAL'?

A 'seal' is any of the suborder pinnioedia of the order carnivora. The seal is a flesh-eating animal that presumably returned to the sea ánd evolved into his current physical form. Sea cows, manatees and dugongs are not seals, but rather herbiverous animals who, as the whales, may have never initially left the sea environment. There are three families of pinnipeds:

Family 1: Otariidze(The eared seals)

The fur seal (Callorhinus alascansus) The stellar sea lion (Eumetopias stelleri) The sea lion (Zalophus californicus)

Family 2: Odobenidae (The walruses)

The arctic walrus (Odobenus)

Familv 3: Phocidae (The 'true' seals)

The common harbor seal (Phcca vitulina) The harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) The hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) The sea elephant (Macrorhinus leoninus) The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)

Thus, a 'seal' is either the sea lion (Zalophus) that we see perforining in the circus, or it is the common harbor seal (Phocida) which also is commonly called the sand seal; or the grey seal (Halichoerus) which is somciimes called the Atlantic Seal. Other

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seals (harp, hooded, hair, wairuses, and the like) are less common because they inhabit remote arctic waters.

The only seals commonly trained have been:

1. The california Sea lion (Zalophus californicus)

2. The harbor seal (Phoca vitulina)

The other seals are either hostile, ve:y large, unintelligent, or will not live in temperate climates.

Following is a list of characteristics of the two types of seals which, for simplicity, I call Zalophus and Phoca.

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FOOD AND FEEDNG

Young seals are diflicult to feed. Transition from liquid to solid food is difficult and should be accomplished as early as possible. Enteritis common and usually fatal - anti-biotics helpful.

Feed seal pups 50% cows milk, S0% animal oil of any sort, add 3 tsos cod liver oil per feeding, emulsify with tragacanthus gum. Feed via bottle or intubation (Tube cannot enter lung accidentally). F.ll animalto overflowing. Animal will burp. groan. roll over and appear dead but is only sleeping.:Add vitamin 'B' complex (B, eritical) tò diet. May be taught to catch own food but not recommended. Adult animals will' eat dog food, cat food, agricultural fish meal (fertilizer), vegetables, soups, etc. Very omniverous, Starving animal will swallow, stones, occasionally when not starved; will regurgitate them voluntarily.

In the wild they eat crustacea, fish and squid.

Zoo Diet: Zalophus (G00 # male): 96 pounds/week

Butterfish - 48# Mackerel - 24# Smelts -24#

Phoca (70 # female): 28 pounds/week Mackerel - 28#

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The auditory acuity of both Phoca and zalophus seens to be quite acute in air. Little is knowa about thair hearing ability in water although- it is reported thet they emit sounds (clicks) which might be used for proximal echo-ranging. Zalophus calls were short bursts oE clicks at rates up to 50/sec with frequencies ranging from 600 to over 1,000 cy/sec. These clicks were also zecorded in the 'bark' that zalophus makes in the air. Phoca's signzis (clicks) were of less intensity than Zalophus' and each of the subspecies of Phoca had a major conponent near 12 kcy/sec. The fact that both Phoca and zalophus respond to the human voice indicates sensitivity in the 325 to 2500 cy/sec. range-Although active echoranging might be of mininal effectivaness it is generally agreed that all pinnipeds possess excellent . passive listening cagabilities.

HEARING

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LOCONOTION (LAND)

Phoca travels poorly on land - l0% flipper action and 90% bunping on his rig cage. Fatigues easily and can go about k mile in 8 hours. Zalophus, with forward-facing flippers can hurry along for several miles at about I-3 mph. Greater rates seem possible. Phoca has been clocked going uphill at 1.5 mph and 4-5 mph downhill for very short distances. Presumably Zalophus could carry a loed faster and farther than Phoca. Mobility is determined by the\_natureiof the surface over which the animal has to travel.

LOCOMOTION (SEA)

Phoca can swim 1s-20 mph and stay submerged 10-l2 min. Zalophus can remain. submerged for about 15 minutes and can swim l0 mph and pcssibly faster under duress. Again it seems likely that Zalophus would beat Phoca in loadcarrying ability in the water, but mainly due to his greater physical size. Both have been taught to pull a small boat and retrieve objects. Both swim well in either salt or fresh water.

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VISION

Both phoca and zalophus seems to have the same visual caoabilities and anatomy, so the single description following will serve for both.

Correa is flatish and serves well both in water and air. There is the possibility that there is also some muscular adaptation wnich also helps vision in both water and air environments. Reportedly can see Calor. Can detect hand waving handkerchief l20 yards away. Can follow trajectory through the air of a stone 1" in diameter thrown 40 feet through an arc 20 fest high. Vision not necessary to survival because blind healthy seals have been captured. No ducts to remove tears to nasal passages, so eyes overfow with tears that run down their cheeks and may influence vision.

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ON DIITG

seals will dive to diffezcnt depths depending upon

whether they are sleeping, playing, or fishing. The

seal usually plays in shallow water neer the shoze and

likes to dive in waves. The sleeping seal usually seeks

quiet water and will sleeg in 0 - 1s feet of water. The

'sleeping'seal will core to the surface, take several

breaths (l0-20), and sink to the bottom again witrsut

opening his eyes. The sleeping\_seal remains on the bottom

betveen 5 to 10 minutes before repeating the respiration

cycle. Afloat they brcethe scre regulerly.

while fishing the seal will follow food to great depths.

shrimp and other crustacea which are found in dee? water

lead seals to depths of approximetely 1,000 feet. Seals have

been caughtin nets at 900 Feet, Researchers have lowered

seals to 1,00o feet with no apparant damage to the seals.

It should be noted that the seal exhales before diving and

calls upon a lover heart rate (10 beats/ minute) and oxygen

roserves in the blood and othar tissues to sustain itself up

to one-half hour in cxtrcme cases. Other physiological mechanises

such as low lactic acid formation also hkelp the seal endure

Thcre is evidence that deep dives for long duration result in

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nitrcgen narcosis and erbolism in, tho, seal
The Weddell seal has been tracked to, about e00 féet"in his quest for food. It'seems likely that depths in excess of 1,0oo'would 1 neither safa or comton for the seal.

VOLUNTARY QIVING elminates say poibility that reraint belng trained to kcep it nowt under vater until he expericendet dert e sals reaponees. Thia Harbor at f'horn viulina) ia loset bis warning Gnger and inscad displaye the reward, a fsh

From: Scholander, P.F. The master switch of life. Scientific - Amcrican,, December,. 1963

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NEMORY AND LEARNING

Both Zalophus and Phoca saem to have excellent learning ability and memory. Zalophus has been used in public demonstrating balancing, musical, and other abilities. Phoca perhaps has πore written about hia as an intelligent pet who can be housebroken, learn commands, and perfora a few Jseful acts.

phoca has been reported to respond to 35 woris such as basket, here, in, out, ball, sing, swim, mouth organ, stick, trunpet, plate, mackintosh, and'others. He would stay in a boat, go overboard, swin forward, abeam, or aft on cosmand. would get the mail and carry it home. Also carried and unpacked a picnic basket. List of clever behavior long.

Has a fair time sense in that he can predict events that occur twice per week, Remembers geographical locations after a period of two years. Also remembers locations of holes in ice which imolies navigational memory.

In general Zalophus and Phoca both seem to learn readily and will retain habits for a great length of time.

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SEAL TALK PND SONG

Seals seem to able to cormunicate and express thensalves in terms sufficient to establish territorial boundries and to indicate'pleasure, They can emit a bark, click, or roar and have been able to "sing" according to some experts. (See section on hearing for details on frequencies of 'clicks'). They have a large range of vocal ability. Their 'singing' has been recorded (see song below), and history is available. of times when seals were called and sung to by fisherman and indeed the seals responded by apprcachirg the singer and even falling asleep.

Ability for seals to play musical instruments indicates at least sensitivity to a great range of sounds and also a certain degree cf adiance toward these sounds. However few of the sounds seals make(other than roars of rage) seem to carry much information.

Note: The 'musical ability' of pinnipeds should not be considered unusual when we take the cooplex but repetitious songs of birds so much for granted..

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sile Acids: "Beta"-Phocaecholic, Acid,(C24H4005) Hydroxy1 groups 3,7,23(?) Melting point .22.2 -22.30 Specific Rotation + 27

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RECOMVE 37 DO'S 5 LOETS

To snvone wishine so train a pinniced it is rsconmended thas

1. ali those who will be hdling che animal sheuld wor with it from the day it is espturad as a pup-

2. Use only females.

3. Get aninal eating deai fish as socn as possible.

4. Never under any circumstances punish the animal. Use oniy rewards to reinforce desired behavior.

5. Train in the physical envirorment wrera animal wiil be used most, e g. ocean, laker pcol.

6. For training in water do not usə tanks immediately {us= schnorkle and mask }-

7. Provide bed for anizal (sofe surface). Treat all ope wounds with tincture of bonzoin if animal to go in water.

8. Elininate any animal that bites.

9. See attached infornation end study selected references.

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/Following is a list o miscellaneous information on

pinnipeds:

1. pinnipeds (Zalophus and Phoca) will live well in either salt or fresh water. Boch dry rapidly upon leaving the water.

2, Zalophús migrates farther, but both travel well and have excellent homing sense.

3. Sense of smell useless uncer water but quite acute in air. Female can smell human if he has touched her pup.

4. Males generally more difficult to handle than females.

5. Phoca becomes immediately atached to any human who handles it during first few weeks of life. Dislikes of people may also manifest themselves rapidly --- but rarely.

6. Behavior wilr be influenced by sexual πaturity unless steps are taken to prevent it (surgically or chemicelly).

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MISCELLIEOUS

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SELECOCD REFERINCES

palner, E.L. Fieldboos of Natural History. McGraw-Hill, New York : 1949

Lane, F,W., Nature Parade. Fawcett Publications. Greenvich, Conn.: 1954.

O'shea, M.V., (Ed), The World Bcok Encvclooedia. W.P . Quarrie & Co., Chicago, 1923.

Young, J.Z., The Life oi Vertebrates. Oxfori Univ. Press, London: 1950.

Lockley, R.M., The Saga of tha Grey Seal. Devin-Adair Co., New York: 1955.

Stuart, F., A Seal's Worl5. McGraw-Rill, Mew York : 1954.

Pearson, R.H., A Seal Flias Bv. Walker & Co.,New York: 196l.

Thomson, D., The Peoole of the Sea. John Day Co., New York: "19ss.

Farre, R. Seal Norning. Rinehart & Co., New York: 1957.

Schevill, W.E. et al., Underwater sounds of Pinnipeds. Sciencer 141, 50-53.

Frings, H. and Prings, M., -Animal Ccmmunication. Blaisdell Publ. Co., New York . 1964.

Carthy, J.D., Animal Navigation , Geo. Allen & Unwin Ltd., London: 1956.

Tavolga, W.N. (Ed.). Marine Bio-Acoustics. Pergamon Press. New York: 1964.

Scheffer, V.C. Seals, Seal Lions, and Walruses: A Review of Pinnipeds. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford: 1958.

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