Juan Fernandez Fur Seal | Oceana
Home / Juan Fernandez Fur Seal
Marine Life Encyclopedia > Marine Mammals > Juan Fernandez Fur Seal

Juan Fernandez Fur Seal

Found near islands off the coast of Chile, Juan Fernández fur seals were once believed to be extinct due to overhunting in the 1700s and 1800s. In 1965, this species was rediscovered and has since made a slow, yet remarkable comeback. 

 

Male Juan Fernández fur seals can grow up to 2 meters long (6.5 feet) and weigh around 140 kilograms (308 pounds), but females are much smaller, usually closer to 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) and 48 kilograms (105 pounds). They reside predominantly on three islands in the Juan Fernández Archipelago and are often seen on their rocky shores. They frequently enter caves along the beaches – which may have helped them escape hunters in the 18th century who prized these seals for their thick, brown fur.

Juan Fernández fur seals are highly agile in the water, hunting down squid and fish to eat. While they spend a lot of time at sea foraging, they return to land to rest, breed, and rejoin their social group. These groups are led by a dominant male, who will fight to defend territory and access to females. Within their groups, the seals are highly vocal, communicating with barks, coughs, and high-pitched screams – each sound with its own meaning.

 

 

Despite a remarkable recovery from near extinction, Juan Fernández fur seals still face threats. Their small population size, low genetic diversity, and restricted range make them especially vulnerable to disease outbreaks and catastrophic events like oil spills. Entanglement in fishing gear and plastic may also pose a threat, as seals have repeatedly been seen entangled in objects like nets or marine debris.

 

 

Continued protection of their breeding grounds and monitoring efforts are essential for the Juan Fernández fur seals’ long-term survival. In 2018, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet protected 262,000 square kilometers of ocean surrounding the Juan Fernandez Islands – a major win for these seals. Oceana worked closely with the local communities and small-scale fishers over several years to win protections for the sea while also preserving their own livelihoods.

 

 

 

GET INVOLVED

DONATE TODAY

SUPPORT OUR WORK TO PROTECT THE OCEANS BY GIVING TODAY

With the support of more than 1 million activists like you, we have already protected over 4 million square miles of ocean.

DONATE

TAKE ACTION NOW

SUPPORT POLICY CHANGE FOR THE OCEANS

Decision-makers need to hear from ocean lovers like you. Make your voice heard!

ACT NOW

VISIT OUR ADOPTION CENTER

SYMBOLICALLY ADOPT AN ANIMAL TODAY

Visit our online store to see all the ocean animals you can symbolically adopt, either for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

SHOP THE STORE

DOWNLOAD OCEAN ACTIVITIES

HELP KIDS DISCOVER OUR BLUE PLANET

Our free KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans) empower children to learn about and protect our oceans!

LEARN MORE

FEATURED CAMPAIGN

Save the Oceans, Feed the World

We are restoring the world’s wild fish populations to serve as a sustainable source of protein for people.

Learn More

MORE CAMPAIGNS

Protect Habitat

Bycatch

Plastics

View All

CONTACT

Oceana International Headquarters
1025 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036 USA

General Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
info@oceana.org

Donation Inquiries
+1(202)-569-4895
wavemaker@oceana.org

Press Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
press@oceana.org

OCEANA'S EFFICIENCY

BECOME A WAVEMAKER

Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT WITH A DONATION

We have already protected over 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.

Donate Now

QUICK LINKS: