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There are 33 species of seals, sea lions, furs
seals and walruses, or pinnipeds as they are known scientifically.
Of these the Hawaiian monk seal
(Monachus schauinslandi)
, the
Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus
monachus), the Guadalupe fur seal
(Arctocephalus townsendi),
the Saimaa seal
(Phoca hispida saimensis)
and
Steller's sea lion
(Eumetopias jubatus)
are listed as endangered by the IUCN/World
Conservation Union. Just recently declared extinct, and last seen in
1952, was the Caribbean monk seal. Seals and sea lions are found in all
of the world's oceans, and in a few freshwater lakes, including Lake Baikal in
Russia. Many nations, including the United States, are actively attempting to
protect endangered seal populations but the battle is far from over. The most
endangered seal in the world is the Mediterranean monk seal, whose numbers are
estimated to be between 400 and 650 individuals.
There are three families of living pinnipeds that are recognized, the
Phocidae (hair seals or true seals), the Otaridae (fur seals and sea
lions) and the
Obobenidae (walrus). The term pinnipedia translates from Latin as
"fin foot". All of these species come ashore to breed, give birth and to nurse
their young.
Most of the world's
populations of seals live near Antarctica and the Artic Circle, vast
regions of ice that have few human inhabitants. Those in the Artic are
more threatened than those in the Antarctic since their domain is also
shared by humans, foxes, wolves and other predators. Other seal
populations that are scattered around the world are severely threatened
primarily due to the activities of man and the resulting pollution and
loss of habitat and competition for prey species. Commercial hunting of
seals in the 18th and 19th centuries, and in the early part of this
century, played a huge role in pinniped population declines. There was a
massive slaughter of fur seals wherever they were found, from the
Aleutian Islands to the Antarctic and the shores and islands of all of
the major continents. Seals are especially vulnerable when on land,
breeding and having their young, as they are slow and ponderous and can
easily be blocked from entering the sea. Bludgeoning to death with clubs
and bats was a common and savagely brutal means to harvest these
helpless creatures. The Northern fur seal inhabits the North Pacific
from California to Japan and was estimated to number over 4.5 million in
1870. In forty short years the population was reduced to only 200,000 by
1914. Similar declines in other species was commonplace.
Today, the slaughter continues. Exploitation of South African fur seals
(Arctocephalus pusillus) began in 1610 and is still going on.
Their major population is along the southwestern coast of Africa, but
they also range as far as Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. By the
end of the 19th century, their populations along the coasts of Angola,
Namibia and South reached dangerously low levels and sealing (or
harvesting of seals) was curtailed. After increases in the 20th century,
a large commercial harvest of 75,000 was authorized on a population that
was estimated at 1,100,000. This species is the only fur seal still
killed in large, legal kills. In 2000, 60,000 were slaughtered.
Fisherman pressure the government to maintain this kill, claiming that
the fur seals harm fish stocks. Fur dealers also of course are in on the
action, eager for seal pelts. The hunt in Namibia was filmed in 2000 and
aired on CNN showing young male seals on shore being killed by men
clubbing them with wooden bats. At the present time, activists are
attempting to end this inhumane hunt. Annual seal hunts still also
continue in Canada, under much protest from animal rights and
environmental groups.
The American National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has jurisdiction over four species of
pinnipeds in the U.S. that are protected under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA).
These are the Caribbean monk seal (thought to be extinct), the Guadalupe
fur seal, the Hawaiian monk seal and the Stellar sea lion. The Hawaiian
monk seal is currently one of the world's most endangered marine
mammals. Once believed to have occurred throughout the Hawaiian islands,
it is now largely restricted to the small, rocky islands northwest of
Hawaii. They are also found on the Midway Islands, Maro Reef, Gardner
Pinnacles, Necker Island and Nihoa Island. The total population is
estimated to be only slightly more than 1,000 individuals. Even smaller
in number is the Mediterranean monk seal, whose population is less than
500.
The links below will take you to some great
websites about seals & sea lions.
The best sites to start for general information are marked with a star
 .
If you have a site that you
think should be listed,
please
email me.
Official, Scientific & Governmental Sites
Endangered Species Organizations
Seal & Sea Lion Observation
Seal & Sea Lion Conservation Groups
Other Countries
Seal & Sea Lion Species
Seal & Sea Lion Rescue & Rehabilitation
Mass Extinction of Species
The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums
The Alliance
of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums is an international
association representing marine life parks, aquariums, zoos, research
facilities, and professional organizations dedicated to the highest
standards of care for marine mammals and to their conservation in the
wild through public education, scientific study, and wildlife
presentations.
Endangered Species Handbook: Fur Seals
The Endangered Species
Handbook is a superb overview of some of the major endangered species on
the planet. A great resource.
Marine Mammal Commission
The Marine Mammal Commission is an
independent agency of the U.S. Government, established under Title II of
the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It was created to provide independent
oversight of the marine mammal conservation policies and programs being
carried out by the federal regulatory agencies.
Pinnipeds
The National Marine Mammal Laboratory's
Education Website.
Threatened, Endangered, and Depleted Seals and Sea Lions
1998 NOAA International
Year of the Ocean webpage
ICUN World Conservation Union
The World
Conservation Union is the world’s largest and most important
conservation network. The Union brings together 82 States, 111
government agencies, more than 800 non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a
unique worldwide partnership. The Union’s mission is to influence,
encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the
integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural
resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation
Monitoring Centre
The
United Nations Environment Programme
World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the
biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm of the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world's foremost
intergovernmental environmental organization.
US Fish & Wildlife Webpages on Endangered Species
The American endangered species
list maintained by the US Fish & Wildlife Service
Word Conservation Union ICUN Red List of Endangered Species
IUCN - The
World Conservation Union, through its Species Survival Commission (SSC)
has for four decades been assessing the conservation status of species,
subspecies, varieties and even selected subpopulations on a global scale
in order to highlight species threatened with extinction, and therefore
promote their conservation.
Sea Lion Caves
See wild sea lions.
Located 11 miles north of Florence on the Oregon Coast
ENGLAND
Seal Conservation Society
A non-profit charitable
organization, the Society was set up in the spring of 1996 with the aim
of protecting and conserving pinnipeds worldwide. This is a superb
resource site. It's all here!
SCOTLAND
Dolphins & Seals of the Moray Frith
Website focusing on
the marine mammals of the Moray Frith in the North Sea.
CALIFORNIA SEA LION
Marine Mammal Center webpage on California Sea Lions
General information webpage
CARIBBEAN MONK SEAL
-EXTINCT
Caribbean Monk Seal
Monachus. org
website profile of Caribbean Monk Seal. Monachus is an
Internet Site
dedicated to the Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean Monk Seals
GUADALUPE FUR SEAL
Marine Mammal Center webpage on Guadalupe Fur Seal
General information webpage
Marine Mammal Center webpage on Harbor Seals
General information
webpage
HARP SEAL
Harpseals.org
Harpseals.org is an all
volunteer, non-profit organization with one goal: to permanently end the
annual Canadian Harp Seal slaughter.
HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL
Hawaiian Monk Seal
Monachus.
org website profile of Hawaiian Monk Seal. Monachus is an
Internet Site
dedicated to the Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean Monk Seals
Hawaiian Monk Seals
Webpage of
Emily Gardner M.S., Hawaii's Marine Wildlife: Whales, Dolphins, Turtles,
and Seals, A Course of Study
MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL
Animal Info: Mediterranean Monk Seal
Webpage
devoted to this seal. Excellent resource site.
Mediterranean Monk Seal
Monachus. org
website profile of Mediterranean Monk Seal. Monachus is an
Internet Site
dedicated to the Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean Monk Seals
NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL
Marine Mammal Center webpage on Northern Elephant Seal
General information
webpage
NORTHERN FUR SEAL
Marine Mammal Center webpage on Northern Fur Seal
General information webpage
STELLER'S SEA LION
American Museum of Natural History webpage on Steller's Sea Lions
American Museum of Natural History - a source you can trust!
Sea Lions and Seals in Oregon
Oregon State University's Oregon
Sea Grant webpage.
Steller's Sea Lions
NOAA Fisheries website on
Alaska's Steller's Sea Lions
Marine Mammal Stranding Center
Dedicated to the rescue,
rehabilitation and release of marine mammals and sea turtles.
Seal Conservation Society Rescue & Rehabilitation
Organizations
A master list of most of
the world's seal rescue and rehab organizations.
American Museum of Natural History Statement
The IUCN Red List of Endangered Species
Professor David Ulansey's Website -Mass Extinction Underway
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