History and present status of the northern elephant seal population

摘要: I ABSTRACT. The northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris, was presumed extinct by 1 89 2 owing primarily to commercial harvesting for their blubber oil that began in the early 1800s. A small, residual breeding colony survived, however, and with legal protection from further hunting, it grew rapidly through 1900s. Im­ migrants steadily colonized other island mainland sites Baja California so 199 seals were on fifteen islands at three main­ land beaches. Sixty-four percent of 28, 64 seal pups born 991 produced two southern Channel Islands, San Miguel Nicolas. entire population estimated number around 127,000 99 apparently still increasing more than 6% annually. remarkable demographic vitality sustained increase has evidently been unalfected species' low genetic variability contrasts recent declines some populations or genetically poly­ morphic M. leonina.