Seals, Sea Lions & Walrus
Information about Seals:
Seals are semi-aquatic marine mammals and members of the family of Otariidae. This family comprises one of the three extant species of pinnipeds. In the family are the sea lions and fur seals. These animals are well adapted to a lifestyle strong attached to the ocean. While on land or on ice floes they are somewhat clumsy and lumbering, in the water they are streamlined, agile and excessively fast. Seals reside in subpolar, temperate, and equatorial waters throughout most of Pacific and oceans of the south and in parts the southern Indian and Atlantic oceans. Their are no known species that live in North Atlantic.
Several species of seals were once in great danger of going extinct due to extensive killing for their fur. But a drop in demand for their coats along with several laws that were enacted to protect them has helped some species recover and enjoy stable, healthy populations. However, there are some species that are still considered endangered, such as the Hawaiian Monk Seal and the Mediterranean Monk Seal. The Caribbean Monk Seal was declared officially extinct in 2008 after several years of searching resulted in no individuals being found.