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Cape Fur Seals Relaxing


Cape Fur Seals Relaxing
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 1993-08
Categories: Mammals
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-04-19 12:07
Viewed: 962
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
These seals are actually relaxing – the shape of their back-bone makes this the most comfortable position for them to relax. The colony at Cape Cross is very large, very noisy and very, very smelly – there is an overwhelming smell of ammonia – from the fish in their diet.

The Cape Fur Seal, now officially called the South African Fur Seal, is a marine mammal equally at home on land or in the sea. Fur Seals are very closely related to sealions, but have double-thickness coats. The adult male seal is just over 2 m long and has a mass of 200 - 300 kg. Females are much smaller at 1,5 m and weigh between 50 and 75 kg. The South African fur seal's range is restricted to islands and the mainland coast between the rich fishing grounds of northern Namibia and Algoa Bay on the south-eastern coast of South Africa.

Fur seals are so-named for their thick pelt, unlike true seals which have only a thin covering of hair. Seal pups have been hunted for their jet black pelts and for the beautiful olive-grey coat which they acquire after moulting, for centuries. The adult's fur is too coarse to be suitable for use in the fur industry.

South African fur seal numbers are on the increase and the present world population is estimated to be approximately 1,5 - 2 million. There are 25 known breeding localities along the South African and Namibian coasts, the largest of which is at Kleinzee near Port Nolloth. There are a further ten non-breeding colonies. Seals prefer breeding on rocky ground but do sometimes use flat, sandy beaches.

During the breeding season males are fiercely territorial and will fight viciously to defend their chosen territories from other males. Females give birth to a single pup between mid- November and late December. A carnivore, the seal has a varied diet which includes pilchards, anchovies, horse mackerel, hake, snoek, squid, and the occasional rock lobster. Seals have few natural predators, among them sharks and killer whales. On land seal pups are vulnerable to blackbacked jackals and brown hyenas, to which they occasionally fall prey.

This shot was taken using a Pentax Z1, 28-80 lenses and Velvia slide film. This is a scanned slide.
delic, garyfudge, ramthakur, Necipp, Adanac, MommaMiaX3 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 530 W: 6 N: 340] (936)
  • [2007-04-19 12:31]

Great shot, James. Well-focused with good depth and bokeh. I can almost hear their noise.
Best wishes,
Hakan

Super photo James,

there's a real story here! Excellent composition, exposure and good use of DoF.

Gary

What fun these Seals seem to be having on the rocks they blend so well with, James!
Excellent shot and an equally well controlled scan from the slide.
Thanks and take care.
Ram

Hello James I certainly envy your travels and photo oppourtunities, this is a lovely composition I like the closeness giving the shallower DOF and the high contrast, creative shot tfs rgds Necip

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1048 W: 1 N: 4156] (13964)
  • [2007-04-19 21:28]

Splendid capture James well exposed, composed and focused giving us an excellent view of life in the group. Thanks fro sharing James.

Hello James, :)

Beautiful capture of these basking seals, wonderful lighting and sharpness! Love the detail and feeling that it seems to exude to me here sitting at my desk! Very well composed, always a joy to see where your travels have taken you. Thank you again.

Ange

  • Great 
  • trinko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 610 W: 83 N: 324] (4310)
  • [2007-04-19 22:09]

good composition, interesting poses by the seals. nice colors good focus.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-04-19 23:29]

Hello James

A super shot of these guys sunning themselves.I guess balancing a ball on their nose would not be such a trick for them then.Excellent POV,and the focus and details are crisp.Very good natural colours.TFS

Rob

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