South American fur seal
| South American fur seal | ||||||||||||
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South American fur seals |
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| Arctocephalus australis | ||||||||||||
| ( Zimmermann , 1783) |
The South American fur seal ( Arctocephalus australis ) is a species of the southern fur seal .
features
The bulls reach a length of 190 cm and a weight of 200 kg. Females are much smaller at 140 cm and 50 kg. While the cows have light brown fur, the males are black-gray with a noticeable neck mane. The subspecies of the Falkland Islands is smaller than that of mainland South America.
distribution
The South American fur seal is distributed in two subspecies: The A. a. gracilis lives on the coasts of South America from Peru to Chile and from Argentina to southern Brazil . On the other hand, A. a. australis on the coasts of the Falkland Islands .
These seals prefer rocky shores and are able to climb fairly steep inclines to get to their camps. They often rest in caves to escape the heat of the sun.
Inventory development
The fur seals have been killed by seal hunters on all coasts for centuries. For example, there were only forty fur seals left along the Peruvian coast in the 1940s ; 20,000 seals live there again due to protective laws that have been passed since then. 40,000 fur seals live on the Chilean coasts, 3,000 on the Argentine coasts and 15,000 on the Falkland Islands ; The colonies are the healthiest on the coasts of Uruguay , where they contain over 200,000 animals.
Hazardous situation and protective measures
The South American fur seal is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) in the Red List of Endangered Species , although it is described as not endangered ("Least Concern").
In the Bonn Convention CMS, where the need for protection of migratory animal species is determined and presented, this seal species is listed in Appendix II. In order to preserve this species, international cooperation in conservation activities is called necessary.
The Washington Convention for the Protection of Species, CITES, takes account of the importance of trade in endangering species, places the South American fur seal in Appendix II, like all species of its genus, and thus requires worldwide trade restrictions.
Uruguay is the only country in South America in which a controlled hunt for these fur seals is allowed; in all other countries in South America this seal species is strictly protected.
The European Union lists the South American fur seal in the EU Species Protection Regulation (EC) No. 338/97 Annex II, whereby protection obligations through certain trade restrictions are also transferred to all members of the EU.
Therefore, this fur seal is designated in the Federal Republic of Germany in the Federal Nature Conservation Act as a species to be placed under special protection.
Individual evidence
- ↑ CMS Appendices I and II. (PDF 88.75 kB) UNEP-WCMC, February 23, 2012, archived from the original on November 14, 2012 ; Retrieved October 16, 2012 (search for Arctocephalus australis).
- ^ The CITES Appendices. CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, September 25, 2012, accessed on October 19, 2012 (English, The Appendixes of the Washington Convention, CITES).
- ↑ Regulation (EC) 407/2009 amending the appendices in Regulation (EC) No. 338/97. (PDF; 5.19 kB) In: Version from May 19, 2009. Council of the EU, accessed on February 4, 2010 .
Web links
- Arctocephalus australis in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2009. Posted by: Campagna, C. (IUCN SSC Pinniped Specialist Group), 2008. Retrieved on 4 February, 2010.
- WISIA Tracing Service for Endangered Species. In: WISIA Online. German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, accessed on February 4, 2010 (query for Arctocephalus australis).
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-8018-5789-9