Author: Morgan Cadle
What to Expect of the Cape Fur Seal in South Africa
The Cape Fur Seal can be seen along coastlines in Namibia and South Africa throughout the year, but more so during breeding season from October to December. When in breeding areas, they engage in a range of activities including mating, calving, nursing their young, and even molting.
Visitors of boat tours can witness a range of fascinating behaviours including breaching, where they leap out of the water, tail-flapping, and spy-hopping, where they poke their heads out of the water to get a better view of their surroundings. They can also be seen calving, mating, and swimming at high speeds of up to 25 to 30 kilometers per hour.
The Cape Fur Seal, or as scientists know it Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, is a majestic creature that can be spotted off the shores of South Africa.
This beautiful creature got its common name from its location and distinctive fur coat. The term ‘Cape,’ refers to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, which is one of the regions where these seals are commonly found. ‘Fur,’ refers to the dense, waterproof fur coat that covers their body. ‘Seal,’ of course, is the general term used to describe marine mammals that are part of the Phocidae family. Their scientific name can be broken into ‘Arctocephalus,’ which is of Greek origins, ‘arcto,’ meaning ‘bear’ and ‘cephalus,’ meaning ‘head’. That refers to the shape of its head, which people say resembles that of bears. ‘Pusillus’ is the Latin word for small, which likely refers to their relatively smaller size compared to other seal species within the Arctocephalus genus.
The Cape Fur Seal’s lifespan in the wild can vary because of certain aspects like predators such as sharks and killer whales, but they can typically live for around 20 to 25 years. Certain seals that have lived in captivity have been known to live longer because of the absence of predators, regular feeding, and medical care. The oldest recorded Cape Fur Seal was a female named Granny. She lived at the East London Aquarium in South Africa and lived to be an astonishing 39 years old.
An adult male Cape Fur Seal measures around 2 to 2.5 meters in length and weighs 200 to 360 kilograms. Meanwhile, the females are a bit smaller, measuring 1.4 to 1.8 meters in length and weighs 75 to 110 kilograms.
Distribution and Migration
Cape Fur Seals are usually seen along the southern and southwestern coastlines of Africa, particularly in Namibia and South Africa. For people in South Africa, they can be seen in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. They are observed year-round, but they are most commonly seen during their breeding season, which typically occurs from October to December.
They do not participate in long-distance migrations like some other marine mammals such as whales or sea turtles. Instead, they tend to exhibit more localized movements and dispersals within their range along the southern and southwestern coastlines of Africa.
During certain times of the year, the Cape Fur Seal may travel a relatively short distance in search of food or suitable breeding and resting sites. A great example of this is when they move between different foraging areas following the movements of their prey. Additionally, young seals may disperse from their colonies to establish territories or join new breeding colonies.
Breeding and Gestation
During their mating season, Cape Fur Seals have been known to form large breeding colonies. In these colonies, the dominant males establish territories and mate with multiple females. These males will fiercely defend their territories from their rivals using various methods, such as physical displays such as vocalizing loudly, baring their teeth, and standing up to display their size. They engage in challenges and fights, use scent to mark specific areas, and patrol the boundaries of their territory. Once a male secures a mating partner, he engages in something called mate guarding, which involves staying close to the female and aggressively driving away any potential competitors that come too close.
The female’s gestation period is around 11.5 months after which they give birth to a single pup typically once a year, but this time between breeding may vary. At birth, Cape Fur Seal pups are relatively large compared to other seal species. They usually measure around 60 to 65 centimeters in length and weigh around 4 to 6 kilograms.
Feeding Habits
The Cape Fur Seal is a highly skilled hunter, often using its streamlined body and sharp teeth to catch prey underwater. Their normal hunting techniques include underwater pursuit, where they chase their prey, and ambush hunting, where they lay in wait and, when the prey is close enough, they launch themselves into the water. They usually hunt alone but, in some cases, they can be seen hunting in groups. This species of seal are opportunistic feeders, preying on a variety of fish, squid, and crustaceans.
Common Habits
Cape Fur Seals are incredibly social animals and can often be seen interacting with each other both on land and in the water. They are well known for their playful behaviour, which includes swimming, diving, and engaging in mock fights with each other. They can also be seen basking in the sun, also known as thermoregulation which is a common practice for marine mammals. They are also seen resting and sleeping, vocalizing to communicate with one another, and young Cape Fur Seals can be spotted exploring their surroundings.
Conservation Status
This species of seal is currently listed as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. This tells us that their population is currently stable, but this can change because of certain threats that they face. These threats include a decline in prey because of overfishing, climate change, habitat degradation, and being entangled in fishing gear. The Cape Fur Seal is also still a target for illegal harvesting, also known as poaching, and human disturbance has been known to disrupt their behaviour.
