Seals

Common Name: Cape Fur Seal
Binomial Name: Arctocephalus pusillus
Identification: Large size. This is the only seal likely to be encountered in southern African waters. Males are much larger than the females.
Weight: Males +/- 190 kg (419 lbs), females +/- 75 kg (165 lbs)
Gestation: 12 months
Young: Single young
Habitat: Strictly coastal; offshore islands and some parts of the mainland. Occurs primarily along the western and southern coasts of South Africa, and along the eastern coast as far as Port Elizabeth.
Diet: Shoaling fish such as pilchards, as well as other fish, squid and crustaceans.
Red List Status: Least Concern
Notes: Cape Fur Seals are still harvested in Namibia. Permits are issued for the killing of pups for their luxurious fur and adult males for their genitalia, which are considered an aphrodisiac in some countries.