Northern fur seals are members of the "eared seal" family (Otariidae). Breeding Season When breeding season arrives, however, these social animals gather on shore in very large numbers. Scientists did not know what a living Guadalupe fur seal looked like until 1928, when a few dozen fur seals were discovered on Guadalupe Island, two … Weaned pups typically spend nearly 2 years away before returning to their breeding colonies. ... recovery of some fur seal colonies, for example, and … Do Antarctic Fur Seals have any natural predators? Antarctic fur seals are preyed on by orcas (killer whales) and leopard seals. Seals are the favorite food of many predators. These predators are only present in low numbers though and they mainly eat large fish, so not many seals actually get eaten by these predators. Fur seals may swim by themselves or gather in small groups.

Guadalupe fur seals were not identified as a distinct species until 1897. During the 1800s the Australian Fur Seal was heavily hunted for its coat and the population dropped from several hundred thousand to only 20,000. Predators Killers Whales are predators of Antarctic Fur Seals and leopard seals will prey upon their pups. Life History. At first glance, their large bodies and short fins appear to make seals easy targets for predators and others that would compete for food and territory. The Guadalupe fur seal breeds on the Isla de Guadalupe and Isla Benito del Este off the coast … The pup is weaned at 4 months old and they reach sexual maturity at 3 - 4 years old. If possible, a seal will usually use flight as a defense rather than fight. It is often the younger pups that have just started going into the water that these larger animals will feed on. Once at the brink of extinction Before the arrival of humans, a population of about 2 million fur seal/kekeno inhabited New Zealand. However, both sharks and killer whales are able to bite of huge chunks to swallow from larger prey. Entanglement in discarded fishing gear is also a threat. Subspecies Antarctic Fur Seals are hunted by Sharks, Killer Whales, and the pups are vulnerable to Leopard Seals. Antarctic Fur Seals have a gestation period of 12 months, which includes a period of delayed implantation, and they give birth to a single pup. They were taken as food by Māori, and the onset of European sealing for meat and pelts in the 1700s and 1800s pushed them to … A New Zealand fur seal is an excellent swimmer. Antarctic Fur Seals got their scientific name gazella from the German vessel SMS Gazelle which was the first to collect the Seal from Kerguelen Island. All Australian marine mammals are protected and the Australian Fur Seal population is making a recovery. New study provides information on the secret life of an enigmatic Antarctic apex predator. Very little data exists for the Guadalupe fur seal, partly because of its geographical isolation. Juveniles have been located at more than 1000 km from where they were born. The New Zealand fur seal displays many unique features including its size, range, diet and life cycle. However, in recent years due to warming water temperatures, the Center has seen record numbers of 4-6 month old northern fur seal pups starving and in need of help (including over 85 onsite at just one time! This is due to the fact that they swallow their prey instead of chewing it. Fur seals compose nine species in taxonomic family Otariidae. Threats to New Zealand fur seal Although in recovery and no longer on the brink of extinction, there are still numerous threats to the New Zealand fur seal including human impact. The largest of these, northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus), are the only fur seals that live in the Northern Hemisphere. Sharks, killer whales, and polar bears are three of the largest predators of seals. ). The predators must rely on ambushing the seals (catching them by surprise).

The primary predators of Guadalupe fur seals are sharks. Killer Whales are another predator or seals in some areas. Northern fur seals primarily use open ocean for foraging and rocky beaches for …

If disturbed on land seals will stampede into the water, and small seals may get injured in the stampede. Fur seals also have larger front flippers, which they use to propel themselves through the water, unlike true seals who motor along using their back flippers. Sea lions and fur seals are distinguished from other species of seals by their ear flaps and their hind flippers, which they can rotate forward, enabling them to …
Typically, The Marine Mammal Center only rescues approximately 5 northern fur seals each year. 7 Attractive Antarctic Fur Seal Facts. Sealers (Humans) were influential predators before 1880.