Mammals
South African Fur Seal
Arctocephalus pusillus · also called South African fur seals, Cape fur seal, Australian fur seal
Packed shoulder to shoulder along a stretch of southern African coastline, tens of thousands of South African fur seals form one of the largest fur seal colonies anywhere on Earth, a crowded breeding gathering that stretches as far as the eye can see.
Overview
The South African fur seal, Arctocephalus pusillus, is one of the largest fur seal species in the world, native to coastal and nearshore ocean waters across two separated ranges spanning southern Africa and southern Australia. Its enormous breeding colonies, considerable size, and strong recovery from historical hunting for fur and oil make it one of the more numerically impressive and conservation-successful pinnipeds found in the Southern Hemisphere.
A colony that stretches to the horizon
Few marine mammal gatherings anywhere match the scale of a South African fur seal breeding colony, where tens of thousands of individuals crowd onto a single stretch of coastline during the height of the breeding season.
Status
Least Concern and increasing, having recovered substantially from historical hunting pressure across both its southern African and southern Australian ranges.
South African Fur Seal: common questions
Why does the South African fur seal have such a wide, split range?
This species is split into two recognised subspecies occupying widely separated ranges, one along the coast of southern Africa and another along the coast of southern Australia, a distribution pattern that reflects the species' historical spread across two distant regions of the Southern Hemisphere.
How large can a South African fur seal colony get?
This species gathers in some of the largest fur seal breeding colonies documented anywhere in the world, with tens of thousands of individuals crowding onto favoured stretches of coastline during the breeding season, among the most impressive pinniped gatherings found globally.
Has the South African fur seal recovered from historical hunting?
Yes, this species was hunted intensively for its fur and oil during past centuries, a pressure that significantly reduced populations, but it has since recovered substantially in most areas following conservation measures, and is now considered widespread and increasing across its range.
How big is the South African fur seal compared to other fur seals?
This species is one of the largest fur seal species in the world, with males considerably outweighing females, making it noticeably bulkier than several other fur seal species found in different parts of the world's oceans.