In 1775, Captain James Cook visited the island of South Georgia
and reported that “there are great many seals present.” During
the 1700′s and 1800′s, the Antarctic Fur Seal was heavily hunted
until nearly extinct. It was this quest for seal pelts that led
to much of the early exploration of Antarctica and the Southern
Ocean. Fur seals belong to the group known as the Otarid or
“eared” seals. This group contains fur seals and sea-lions that
have a visible ear flap. They have a short, broad snout, long
whiskers and waterproof fur on their bodies. Another remarkable
trait of the fur seal is that their hind flippers can be used
facing forward or backwards. While they are able to propel
themselves efficiently in the sea, they are also able to walk
and run on land. Their usual food supply is krill, of which each
Antarctic fur seal eats about a ton in a year. They also prey on
fish and squid. By 1822 the seal was regarded as commercially
extinct with only a small population existing on Bird Island in
South Georgia.