EXCLUSIVE: Fur Seals Are Back From the Brink on California Islands | National Geographic

the northern fur seal was a top predator

the northern fur seal was a top predator in this area and 150,000 of them were

in this area and 150,000 of them were

in this area and 150,000 of them were removed from the ecosystem my name is

removed from the ecosystem my name is

removed from the ecosystem my name is Jim teats and I’m a biologist four-point

Jim teats and I’m a biologist four-point

Jim teats and I’m a biologist four-point blue conservation science and I work on

blue conservation science and I work on

blue conservation science and I work on southeast Farallon island which is 30

southeast Farallon island which is 30

southeast Farallon island which is 30 miles west of San Francisco in the

miles west of San Francisco in the

miles west of San Francisco in the eighteen hundred’s throw a lot of many

eighteen hundred’s throw a lot of many

eighteen hundred’s throw a lot of many sealers that came to the island hunting

sealers that came to the island hunting

sealers that came to the island hunting fur seals and other seals for the pelts

fur seals and other seals for the pelts

fur seals and other seals for the pelts they were completely removed from the

they were completely removed from the

they were completely removed from the island down there were there were

island down there were there were

island down there were there were basically none left

basically none left

basically none left fur seals are pretty small compared to a

fur seals are pretty small compared to a

fur seals are pretty small compared to a lot of the other seals individuals have

lot of the other seals individuals have

lot of the other seals individuals have been seen by biologists since 1970

been seen by biologists since 1970

been seen by biologists since 1970 around there more and more individuals

around there more and more individuals

around there more and more individuals started showing up and they finally

started showing up and they finally

started showing up and they finally started breeding in 1996 this surveys

started breeding in 1996 this surveys

started breeding in 1996 this surveys been going on for a few decades now but

been going on for a few decades now but

been going on for a few decades now but the one problem with this survey is that

the one problem with this survey is that

the one problem with this survey is that we can’t see what’s going on over at

we can’t see what’s going on over at

we can’t see what’s going on over at West End where all the fur seals mostly

West End where all the fur seals mostly

West End where all the fur seals mostly are so we go over there twice a month to

are so we go over there twice a month to

are so we go over there twice a month to count them all from much closer and that

count them all from much closer and that

count them all from much closer and that way we can get a much more accurate

way we can get a much more accurate

way we can get a much more accurate count as to how many there are

this population has been growing

this population has been growing exponentially for the past about 20

exponentially for the past about 20

exponentially for the past about 20 years or so there were over a thousand

years or so there were over a thousand

years or so there were over a thousand now total individuals at this colony our

now total individuals at this colony our

now total individuals at this colony our peak counts now are up around 1,100

peak counts now are up around 1,100

peak counts now are up around 1,100 1,200 individuals and about three to

1,200 individuals and about three to

1,200 individuals and about three to four hundred pups around the population

four hundred pups around the population

four hundred pups around the population is actually probably quite a bit larger

is actually probably quite a bit larger

is actually probably quite a bit larger because at any given time most of the

because at any given time most of the

because at any given time most of the first seals are probably out in the

first seals are probably out in the

first seals are probably out in the water hunting or just staying cool they

water hunting or just staying cool they

water hunting or just staying cool they have an extremely dense fur and that

have an extremely dense fur and that

have an extremely dense fur and that allows them to be pretty much impervious

allows them to be pretty much impervious

allows them to be pretty much impervious to the cold water when they’re swimming

to the cold water when they’re swimming

to the cold water when they’re swimming around it looks like there’s a lot of

around it looks like there’s a lot of

around it looks like there’s a lot of them over on Indian Head and then down

them over on Indian Head and then down

them over on Indian Head and then down in the water also some of the rookies

in the water also some of the rookies

in the water also some of the rookies apparently up in Alaska and islands they

apparently up in Alaska and islands they

apparently up in Alaska and islands they have been tagging individuals

have been tagging individuals

have been tagging individuals and then also on San Miguel Milan when

and then also on San Miguel Milan when

and then also on San Miguel Milan when that colony first started people started

that colony first started people started

that colony first started people started tagging those animals as well the tag is

tagging those animals as well the tag is

tagging those animals as well the tag is either a small piece of plastic or metal

either a small piece of plastic or metal

either a small piece of plastic or metal it’s like an earring essentially with a

it’s like an earring essentially with a

it’s like an earring essentially with a number on it probably 99% or more of the

number on it probably 99% or more of the

number on it probably 99% or more of the tag we see here from San Miguel Island

tag we see here from San Miguel Island

tag we see here from San Miguel Island I’ve seen one tag from the commander

I’ve seen one tag from the commander

I’ve seen one tag from the commander islands from Russia which is incredible

islands from Russia which is incredible

islands from Russia which is incredible just to think of the first seal small

just to think of the first seal small

just to think of the first seal small seal swimming all the way from Russia

seal swimming all the way from Russia

seal swimming all the way from Russia all the way over to southeast Farallon

all the way over to southeast Farallon

all the way over to southeast Farallon Islands amazing we’re not 100% sure that

Islands amazing we’re not 100% sure that

Islands amazing we’re not 100% sure that the population will recover to the level

the population will recover to the level

the population will recover to the level it used to be you know this the

it used to be you know this the

it used to be you know this the ecosystem is not as healthy as it once

ecosystem is not as healthy as it once

ecosystem is not as healthy as it once was

was

was population could top out and you know

population could top out and you know

population could top out and you know stay 20,000 and 30,000 it’d be grated –

stay 20,000 and 30,000 it’d be grated –

stay 20,000 and 30,000 it’d be grated – topped out at 150,000 but there’s just

topped out at 150,000 but there’s just

topped out at 150,000 but there’s just no knowing at this point what that’s

no knowing at this point what that’s

no knowing at this point what that’s gonna be

gonna be

gonna be you