Seals...

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Distribution and Numbers

The breeding range of the Antarctic fur seal, also formerly known as the Kerguelen fur seal, is restricted mainly to seasonally ice-free islands south of, or close to, the Antarctic Polar Front with over 95% of the species breeding on South Georgia. Other breeding sites, many fuelled by migrants from South Georgia, are established at South Orkney, South Shetland, South Sandwich, Bouvetaya, Heard, Marion, Macquarie, McDonald, Crozet, Prince Edward and Kerguelen Islands. The total population size was estimated as 1.5 million in 1990 but it is thought that the population may have since increased to over 4 million. Wandering seals have been found as far north as Brazil and the Juan Fernandez Islands.
Status
Antarctic fur seals were almost made extinct by commercial
sealing for their fur in the 18th and 19th centuries, perhaps only a few hundred of the seals remaining, and small scale hunting continued until 1907. The species is now protected by the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS), the Antarctic Treaty and the legislation of various countries within its range. In addition, the Antarctic fur seal is listed as an Appendix II species under CITES. Since protection, the population has been growing steadily, particularly at South Georgia since the 1950s, and population growth is now about 10% per annum.
A plan by Norwegian scientists to kill 20 Antarctic fur seals, as well as 60 other seals, in the summer of 2000-2001 for research into environmental contaminants was cancelled after the Norwegian government rejected the plan. Several environmental organisations had vigorously opposed the plan, questioning its necessity and also its appropriateness given the option of alternative non-lethal sampling techniques.
The importance of krill in the diet of Antarctic fur seals at South Georgia could result in the species being affected by an increased krill fishery in the Southern Ocean as well as by increased competition for krill with other marine mammal species that are now recovering from previous exploitation. The entanglement of Antarctic fur seals in man-made debris, particularly around the neck, is a problem as it can cause death by drowning or starvation. A 1988-1989 study at Bird Island, South Georgia, found 208 sightings of entanglement, the main culprits being polypropylene straps, nylon string and fishing net, indicating a figure of 5,000-10,000 fur seals entangled for the entire South Georgia population. The debris is most likely to come from marine traffic in the Southern Ocean.
In January 2000 it was reported that Chilean scientists had found Brucella antibodies in Antarctic fur seal samples and a Weddell seal sample obtained in the South Shetland Islands, the first discovery of antibodies to the serious reproductive disease Brucellosis in Antarctic seals. Unusually high levels of toxic heavy metals have also been found in Antarctic fur seals but the effects and sources of these are uncertain. Some scientists, claiming that the growing population of Antarctic fur seals is now causing environmental problems by polluting lakes and destroying plants in Antarctica, have been pushing for the downgrading of the fur seals' conservation status.
Antarctic fur seals on World Heritage listed Macquarie Island were afforded additional protection in 2000 by the creation of a new federal 16 million hectare Marine Park on the eastern side of the island. The Tasmanian government also announced in 2000 an extension to the Macquarie Island Nature Reserve to cover all Tasmanian waters out to three nautical miles surrounding the island.

10:30 PM; Mamegoma'

theSEAL;

Name:Seal
Position:Endangered

Breeds;

1.Antarctic Fur Seal
2.Eared Seals
3.Hooded Seals
4.Harp Seals
5.Earless Seals
6.Guadalupe Fur Seals
7.Bearded Seals
8.Grey Seals
9.Caspian Seals
10.Ribbon Seals
11.Ringed Seals
12.Spotted Seals
13.Baikal Seals
14.Harbour Seals
15.Leopard Seals
16.Weddell Seals
17.Crabeater Seals
18.Northern Elephant Seals
19.Southern Elephant Seals
20.Mediterranean Monk Seals
21.Ross Seals
22.Caribbean Monk Seals[EXTINCTED]
23.Hawaiian Monk Seals
24.Souht American Fur Seals
25.New Zealand Fur Seals
26.Antarctic Fur Seals
27.Galapagos Fur Seals
28.Juan Fernandez Fur Seals
29.South African And Australian Fur Seals
30.Guadalupe Fur Seals
31.Subantarctic Fur Seals
32.Northern Fur Seals

theCREDITS;

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brush: x
picture: Mamegoma
designer: hui min

pls leave the credit alone