Are Antarctic fur seals aggressive?
Antarctic fur seals are often mistaken for sea lions due to their long necks, pointed snouts, and long whiskers. They exhibit marked sexual dimorphism: females measure up to 1.38 m and weigh about 34 kg, while males can reach 1.98 m and weigh up to 136 kg. Occasionally, a rare "yellow-blond" variant can be observed, affecting about 1 in 1,000 seals.
Despite its name, the Antarctic fur seal is most commonly found on sub-Antarctic islands, such as South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, and the South Shetland Islands, rather than on the Antarctic continent. South Georgia alone is home to about 95% of the world's Antarctic fur seal population, with about 6 million seals. The month of November is the peak breeding season, when colonies crowd the beaches. Those who travel between January and February may see curious seal pups exploring their surroundings.
The breeding season begins in late October and continues through December. Males fight each other for the right to rule harems of up to 20 females (rare harems can reach 100 females). Fights can be extremely aggressive, and some encounters result in fatalities. Once they have established a harem, males are reluctant to leave it unprotected and will remain on land for up to two months without food. When the females arrive, they are already pregnant before the previous year’s breeding season and give birth in November or December. They mate about a week after birth. The young are raised by their mothers for about four months. Once they learn to swim, they usually stay at sea for several years until they reach sexual maturity, at which point they finally return to land to join the others during the mating season.
When it comes to Antarctic wildlife, penguins are the most popular attraction. Next up are seals, one of the most beloved marine mammals on the White Continent. There is virtually no other place to observe and photograph fur seals than the beauty of the Antarctic sub-islands.
Few species have managed to pull themselves back from the brink of extinction. After decades of relentless hunting, Antarctic fur seals have not only returned but have been thriving in recent decades.
Seals can be seen throughout the tourist season in Antarctica. You’ll usually find them practically motionless. Sometimes, you might see two males fighting over a female or an adult baring its teeth on camera. It’s in these moments that the magic of Antarctica unfolds before you.
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