New Zealand Fur Seals
At Flinders Chase National Park, on Kangaroo Island visitors can view the New Zealand fur seals while they are ashore in between foraging trips.
Admirals Arch is located at the end of the boardwalk which starts from the car park close to the Cape du Coedic lighthouse.
New Zealand Fur Seals
The New Zealand fur seal colonies on Kangaroo Island are thriving and showing signs of recovery from the sealing days back in the early 1800s. Here at the Arch, females can be seen nursing their pups while they are home in the colony in between foraging trips.
During the breeding season the bulls are very territorial and if you stay around long enough you will be able to see how dominant a bull is by observing how much of an area he has marked as his territory by defending it from other males.
Since the completion of the boardwalk and prohibition of access on to the rocks at the bottom of the Arch - the fur seals have shown an increased presence. Once again - proving that if we can respect the space of the "local residents" they will be happy to let us observe them as they get on with their daily life.
Enjoy the experience with wildlife, be content to observe without interaction and you will have the satisfaction of a real wildlife experience...............
The fur seals were hunted for their beautiful fur coats..
Now they are protected by law and it is illegal to hunt them or any seal in Australia.
Friday 17th February 2006
