Fur seal can survive from 12 to 30 years in the wild, depending on the species. These days, Australian Fur Seals are most threatened by entanglement in floating plastic, ghost nets (floating fishing nets) and fishing line. Krill makes up about 95% of an Antarctic Fur Seal’s diet. Bulls are much larger than cows. Fur seal is a carnivore. They are in the family of Otariidae or Eared Seals and hence have visible ears. There are only very rough estimates of the Antarctic Fur Seal population due to the fact that they spend so much of their time out at sea. They’ll eat about a ton of krill a year. The Australian Fur Seal has two layers of fur: an outer layer with dark hair and an undercoat with light and thick hair. Southern species of fur seal are smaller than northern species. When the females arrive they are already pregnant from the previous year’s season, and give birth in November or December. Once they’ve established a harem males are unwilling to leave them unprotected and will stay on land up to 2 months without feeding. The population of Antarctic Fur Seals on South Georgia Island is the densest marine animal population on the planet. Antarctic Fur Seals are generally a solo act outside of mating season although they can congregate in vast numbers on beaches near good feeding grounds in the autumn and early winter. Brown Fur Seals live along the south-west coast of Africa and the south-east coast of Australia. Skin stays dry, even … When it is on the solid ground, fur seal uses its flippers for walking. Whiskers on the face facilitate detection of food in the murky waters. Northern fur seal was frequently on a target of hunters during the 18. Australian Fur Seals breed in colonies surrounded by many others. Once they’ve learned to swim they will usually stay at sea a number of years until they reach sexual maturity, at which point they’ll finally return to land to join the others in the mating season. The fights can be extremely aggressive, and some encounters result in deaths. 1. Fur seals gather in very large numbers at the shores and rocky outcrops during the mating season, which takes place during the summer. If you haven’t had an Australian Fur Seal encounter yet, consider going on the 4 day Wildlife Journey to East Gippsland. The Australian Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus is a subspecies of the Brown or Afro-Australian Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus. Males do not eat during the mating season and they usually loose around 20% of their body weight during this period. It is now estimated that 120,000 Australian Fur Seals live in the wild in Australia. Summer is the optimal time for a pup to survive: their food (mostly fish and shellfish) is abundant and the sea is wam. Anchoring in various spots around the region, the expedition offers the chance to hike, and... OTL29-21. We have a total of The pups are nursed by their mothers for about 4 months. Fur seal can reach 4 to 10 feet in length and up to 700 pounds of weight. Antarctic Fur Seals are an example of Seals that can walk on land, thanks to their ability to turn their rear flippers forward, turning them into useful “feet.”. These seals are easily recognizable by their thick coats, pointed faces and long whiskers, and their powerful front flippers upon which they can stand. The hind flippers are short relative to the large body, with short, fleshy tips on the digits. But most mating occurs around 12 months before birth, on the breeding islands where large numbers of seals have congregated. It is believed they can go deeper than that if necessary for food. The Australian Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus is a subspecies of the Brown or Afro-Australian Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus. The slaughter eliminated fur seals from several sites – though they have not been legally hunted for well over 100 years, they have never bred there again. Pregnancy lasts 11 to 12 months ends with a single baby (pup). On the Wildlife Journey you will be offered an opportunity to help us remove some of this pollution from the shore, saving seals from entanglement. Males are nearly 5 times larger than females. Falkland Islands, They prefer to mate on pebbly, rocky beaches and uncomfortable rock ledges. Females of some species have light-colored fur on the front side of the body. The brown fur seal is the largest and most robust member of the fur seals. You might think it amazing that seals have fur at all! This expedition cruise passes through waters travelled by Humpback, Minke and Fin whales. They like to be watched and a bit of pain gets them in the mood: kinky. Appearance: Antarctic Fur seals are usually brown in coloration with a slightly more light brown or grey tone in newly molted juveniles and females. The Australian Fur Seal is sexually dimorphic (males and females are visibly different). Females can easily recognize their babies thanks to the specific calls they produce. Fur seal spends most of its time on the sea where it collects food and sleeps (usually on the back while it floats on the surface of the sea). There are eight species of southern fur seals, all smaller than their northern relative. Australian Fur Seals are part of the otariidae family, which comes from the Greek word otarion which means “little ear”. with Antarctic Fur Seal, The cruises on oceanwide-expeditions.com have received an average, Antarctica - Polar Circle, Deep South Discovery, Antarctica - Polar Circle, Deep South Discovery Voyage, 8 days South Georgia Special incl. On fur seals the fur is sleek and shiny when wet, and fluffy when dry. Antarctic Fur Seals are hunted by Sharks, Killer Whales, and the pups are vulnerable to Leopard Seals. OTL26-22. Sail to the southern parts of the Antarctic Peninsula, Peter I Island, the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas into the Ross Sea. They have external ear flaps (pinnae) and their whiskers (vibrissae) are long, and may extend backward past the pinnae, especially in adult males.