Arctocephalus

New Zealand fur seals

• Guadalupe fur seal (A. townsendi )
• Juan Fernández fur seal (A. philippii )
• Galapagos fur seal (A. galapagoensis )
• South American Fur Seal (A. australis)
• Subantarctic Fur Seal (A. tropicalis )
• Antarctic fur seal (A. gazella )
• New Zealand fur seal (A. forsteri )
• Cape Fur Seal (A. pusillus)

The Southern fur seals (Arctocephalus ) are a genus of sea lions. The eight species demarcation between very similar to each other and especially by the different sizes. The Northern fur seals have dense, woolly fur mean, however, end here, even the similarities; Southern fur seals are obviously with the sea lions are more closely related than with their northern cousins ​​name.

The color of the Southern fur seals is usually light brown. Males also have a black neck mane. For propagation times fur seals form large colonies in which a male for several females per harem maintains. Between rival males, there are fights for the best places on the coast, in the course of younger and weaker males are pushed to the edge of the colonies.

The distribution areas of six of the eight species are located on the southern shores of South America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and islands in their vicinity. The Guadalupe fur seals and Galapagos fur seals live on and around the islands of the same name.

Endangering

All eight species are on the Red List of endangered species by the World Conservation Union IUCN.

• The Galapagos fur seal (Arctocephalus galapagoensis ) falls under the category of threat endangered ( Endangered ).
• The Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi ) and the Juan Fernandez fur seal (Arctocephalus philippii ) are Near Threatened considered ( Near Threatened ).
• The remaining five species are considered not at risk (Least Concern ).

Protection

In order to preserve the endangered species in the genus of a worsening of the situation, some protective measures in the form of Conventions multinational nature were decided. This Agreement will find subsequently input into national laws and regulations.

In the Bonn Convention CMS, a Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, is the kind of South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) in Annex II compliance. It is accordingly regarded as a way of preserving their international action must be taken.

About the CITES CITES trade will be banned from the Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi ) according to Appendix I as directly endangered species. The global trade with all other species of this genus according to Appendix II will be allowed only limited.

The European Union and the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation 338/97 Appendix A provides the Guadalupe fur seal (A. townsendi ) and additionally the Juan Fernández fur seal (A. philippii ) to the world's survival at risk by trading types. They are occupied with the trade ban. All other species are found in Appendix B, which specifies, in certain countries by trading endangered species. For these so limited trade opportunities also apply to the European level. In addition, this EU regulation has a direct impact on all EU Member States.

The Federal Republic of Germany has in the Federal Nature Conservation Act, the two occupied with trade ban types Juan Fernández fur seal (A. philippii ) and Guadalupe fur seal (A. townsendi ) protected as strictly from. The other types are referred to as special protection.