New Zealand Fur Seals

New Zealand Fur Seals

Cape Palliser is at the southernmost tip of the North Island of New Zealand (NZ), a scenic 90-minute drive from Wellington. It is famous for the Cape Palliser Lighthouse and is home to New Zealand’s largest Fur Seals (Kekeno) (Arctocephalus forsteri) colony.

It is the only breeding fur seal colony on New Zealand’s North Island. NZ Fur Seals are permanent residents at Cape Palliser.  The fur seals sunbathe on the rocks and grass when not out fishing for food.

New Zealand Fur Seals were once hunted to local extinction, first by the Polynesian settlers to NZ, followed by European hunters in the 19th century.

They belong to the family of pinnipeds (wing-footed). They have webbed flippers instead of paws or feet, external ears, pointy noses and long whiskers. Their bodies are covered with two layers of fur with plenty of blubber to keep them warm in the cold NZ waters.

Seal Lions, on the other hand, while they look similar, don’t have external ear flaps or pointy noses and are larger. NZ fur seals tend to be found on rocky shorelines, while sea lions prefer sandy beaches.

Characteristics

The males weigh 90 – 150 kg and are around 2.5m long. Females weigh 30 – 50 kg and are 1.5m in length. The lifespan of New Zealand Fur Seals is approximately 16 years. 

Generally, a ‘fur seal’s coat is dark grey-brown on its back and lighter on its fronts. However, when wet, they can look black. Interestingly, some fur seals have longer fur with white tips, often making them look silvery.

Fur seals mainly hunt at night, as often their prey is closer to the surface. However, they can dive deep to depths of up to 100 metres.  More recently, satellite tracking has shown that some female fur seals have been diving to depths of over 240 metres.

The fur seal’s long-haired whiskers are used as feelers. Their whiskers help the seals hunt in the very dark waters. The whiskers sense the movement of the water as their prey moves to swim away.

A group of fur seals are called a pod, bob, harem, herd, rookery, or colony.

Habitat

 
Fur seals are seen on rocky shorelines around NZ, Chatham Islands and Macquarie Island.  NZ Fur Seals are also found in South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania.

Reproduction

The breeding season is from mid-November to mid-January. Furthermore, fur seals will return to their same breeding sites annually. Females will give birth to a single pup during this time. Then, around a week later, they will mate again to ensure the next pup will be born during the warm summer months. 

Females will have their first pup between 4 and 6 years of age. They will continue to give birth to a single pup each year. Males become sexually active at around 5 – 6 years. However, they do not sire pups until around 8 – 12. By about nine years old, males are strong enough to defend their territory and their harem of females.

Males will fight for females and may mate with as many females as possible. Fur seals use delayed implantation, meaning the egg is fertilised but not implanted in the uterine wall for another three months. Gestation is 11 months. In reality, it is nine months due to the delayed two months of implantation. 

Following birth, pups depend on their mother’s milk for around ten months, after which they start to eat the food their mothers bring back from their fishing expeditions.  While mothers are at sea fishing, pups stay in their colonies with other pups.  By around 11 months, the pups are weaned and learn to catch their food.

Diet

Fur seals are carnivorous and prey on octopuses, squid, fish, birds, eels, and penguins.

Conservation status 

New Zealand Fur Seals’ current status is ‘Least Concern’ (IUCN Red List of Endangered Species). Their population is recovering, and numbers are increasing. However, during the 1800s, the NZ fur seals were on the brink of extinction.

When the human settlers arrived in NZ, the fur seal population was around 2 million. Due to overhunting for food and their pelts, the fur seal population decreased dramatically.

Since 1978, the NZ fur seal has been a protected species by the Marine Mammals Protection Act. It is estimated that the current fur seal population is around 200,000.

Threats – human activities
  • Commercial and recreational fishing 
  • Getting caught in fishermen’s nets and drowning
  • Marine debris – such as nets, plastics, and oil spills. Seals get caught in nets and drown; they also can choke on discarded plastics and other items.
  • Less food is available due to the fishing industry
  • Gas and oil exploration
  • Tourism – disturbance and illegal attacks on fur seals
  • Introduced predators, such as dogs
  • Natural predation – sharks, killer whales, leopard seals and sea lions.
Safety when visiting Fur seals

Marine Mammals are a protected species. Therefore, it is an offence to disturb, harass, harm, injure or kill a fur seal.  If threatened, fur seals, like any other wildlife, will defend themselves, their young, and their habitats. Fur seals can move quickly on land and attack humans and dogs. They also carry infectious diseases that can be transferred to humans.

Remember the rules when viewing wildlife.
  • Stay 10 metres away on foot and 30 metres away in a boat or kayak.
  • Don’t disturb seals by making loud noises or throwing things.
  • Keep dogs, other domestic wildlife and children away.
  • Don’t feed the fur seals.
  • Never approach or try to touch a fur seal.
  • Never separate a mother and her pup.

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(c) Margaret Weiss 2020