GUADALUPE FUR SEAL 



Tens of thousands of this seal were slaughtered for their furs on the 

 islands off southern and lower California during the past centviry. By 1900 

 they were nearly extinct. In 1928, two from a reported herd of 60 on 

 Guadalupe Island, Mexico, were brought alive to the San Diego Zoo. A 

 period of 20 years with doubtful or no observation of the Guadalupe fur seal 

 followed and it was thought to be extinct. Then in 1949 and again in 1951 

 a lone male was seen and photographed by Dr. G. A. Bartholomew on San 

 Nicolas Island off southern California. In November of 1954, Dr. Carl L, 

 Hubbs rediscovered a small breeding colony of 14 animals on Guadalupe 

 Island off Lower California, Mexico. With careful protection and freedom 

 from human distrubance it is still possible that the species will survive. 



Description 



A Guadalupe fur seal bull which died in poor condition in the San 

 Diego Zoo in 1929 weighed 221 pounds and was nearly 6 feet long. The 

 body was dusky black with grayish on the head and shoulders. The nose 

 of this seal is longer and more pointed and the forehead profile flatter than 

 that of the northern fur seal. Although northern fur seals migrate to waters 

 off southern California, the bull is not known to reach this far south. Thus, 

 any bull fur seal seen in these waters is quite certain to be a Guadalupe fur 

 seal. 



Range 



The Guadalupe fxir seal should be looked for on the small islands off 

 the southern California and northern Lower California coasts. (See intro- 

 ductory paragraphs, ) 



Feeding habits 



Unknown. Undoubtedly, as other members of this genus do, they feed 

 on a variety of fish, moUusks, and crustaceans. 



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