71 



c. Hawaiian monk seal: 



The present population is not more than 1,500 animals. Since 1909, when the 

 Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge was created, the monlj seal has 

 been afforded protection by the federal government. The monk seal today bree<is 

 on only four islands ; all within the confines of the refuge. 



/. Polar bear: 



A cooperative study of polar bears ourrently is being conducted by Canada, 

 Denmark, Norway, the U.S.S.R. and the United States. This study was initiated 

 following an international meeting held in Fairbanks, Alaska in 1965. Since 

 then two working group meetings were held in Morges, Su-itzerland. Areas of 

 needed research were outlined, agreements were reached on standardizing re- 

 search methods and procedures and certain research problems assigned to 

 individual specialists in attendance. 



g. Manatee: 



The manatee is given complete protection as an endangered species by both 

 state and federal governments. 



4. BESEAKCH TIME AND MONEY 



a. Fur seal: 



Current : $300,000/yr., 12 man years. 

 Required : (see b below) . 



b. Whales and other cetaceans: 



Current : $100,000/yr., 3 man years. 



Required: $3 million required for a coordinated national effort on fur 

 seal and whale research. 



c. Elephant seal and sea lion: 



Current: $6,000/yr. (Total expended in a 74-25 Federal Aid Program.) 

 Required: Same. 



d. Hair seals: None. 



e. Sea otter: 



Current: Approximately $90,000/yr., 2^^ man years. (Includes $25,000 in 



Federal Aid Program and $6,375 in Oregon program.) 

 Required: $140,000/yr. 



/. Walrus: 



Current: $20,000/yr. (includes $16,000 in Federal Aid), 1 man year. 

 Required : $60,000, additional 1 man year. 



g. Hanvaiian monk seal: 



Current: $3,000/yr., 1 man year. 

 Required : Same. 



h. Polar bear: 



Current: $120,000/yr. (includes $40,000 in Federal Aid), 1 man year. 

 Required : $240,000/yr. 2 man years. 



i. Manatee: Endangered — no research. 



5. CUEKENT AND FORESEEABLE DEMANDS 



It appears that demands, both U.S. and international, in all categories (i.e. food, 

 clothing, display, research, and sale of skins) will increase due to the increasing 

 world population and increasing interest in furs, zoos, etc. 



HiSTOEY OF B'TJE SeAL 



In the 18th century, the seals' rich fur made them targets of intensive hunt- 

 ing in the Northern Hemisphere. 



The Russians discovered the Pribilof Islands in 1786. In the ensuing years 

 Russian hunters reportedly took 2.5 million seal pelts. Initially, harvesting was 

 uncontrolled, breeding females were unprotected in the Pribilof. herds were re- 

 duced to remnants. In 1834, when the seals had been almost annihilated, the 

 Russians stopped killing females and the herd began to increase. By 1867, when 



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