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This aquatic mammal is a superb
swimmer, and can dive to around 150 metres searching for fish and squid,
and is highly gregarious (fond of company)
 Description
*) Males
The male Australian Fur Seal (with massive necks and shoulders and
powerful canine teeth) weighs up to 360 kg and is approximately 2 metres
long. They are dark greyish to brown with a paler underside, and a dark
mane of coarse hair over the neck and shoulders The lifespan of an
Australian Fur Seal male is roughly 19 years
*) Females
Australian Fur Seal females are smaller and lighter than their male
counterparts, weighing up to 100 kg and are approximately 1.7 metres in
length. Females vary in colour from pale fawn to grey to greyish brown
to silver grey, with a pale (often yellowish) throat and brown
underside. Their lifespan of an Australian Fur Seal female is roughly 21
years
Newborn pups are black.
Location Habitat
 Australian Fur
Seals are found mainly in Bass Strait between Victoria
and Tasmania and small patches off the
coast of New South Wales and South
Australia Breeding now occurs at only 9 sites, all in Bass Strait.
These sites are all "rocky" eg. rock slopes, ledges, pebble
beaches reefs and caves. Population size is hard to determine but
estimates suggest between 35,000 and 60,000.
 Feeding
Australian Fur Seals dive deep in Bass Strait to feed on small squids octopuses,
fishes crustations and rock lobsters Their preferred prey are squid and
small fish, such as schools of pilchards or mackerel
It seems probable that it finds some prey by echolocation. Australian
Fur Seals have very keen sight.
Movement
The fur seal is an extremely good swimmer and diver and moves eloquently
through its marine environment. The same can not be said for its
movement across land where it uses its four flippers in a variety of
gaits and waddles to move at speeds from a slow walk to a fast gallop.
 Breeding
Breeding occurs on exposed sites such as rock slopes, ledges, pebble
beaches and reefs
Adult breeding males (Bulls) arrive at the breeding sites in late
October (Spring) and establish their territories (resolved through
fighting). Pregnant females (Cows) mostly arrive in late November and
generally give birth to a single pup about 2 days later, virtually a
year since copulation, (though gestation actually begins 3 to 4 months
after copulation) After giving birth, the Fur Seal female will remain
ashore for 6 days and then re-mate. After this they go to sea to feed
for a few days at a time, returning for 2 to 3 days to nurse their pups.
This pattern continues for about 10 -11 months until the pups are
weaned.
Predators
+ Threats
A small number of seals are killed by sharks, particularly White
Pointers who prey on seals.
Killer Whales are known seal eaters but are rarely seen near the
Australian Fur Seal breeding colonies.
Commercial fishing has reduced the seals food sources.
Entanglement with fishing gear (lines, nets and ropes)
The swallowing of plastic bags, thinking they are a type of translucent
squid etc
Toxic pollution and oil spills
Protection
The Australian Federal Government and State Governments have
passed laws making it illegal to kill, hurt or harass any Australian Fur
Seal or even own or sell any fur seal parts or products. All the
breeding sites are protected wildlife reserves.
 
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