The New Zealand (or Southern) Fur Seal is a species of fur seal found around the south coast of Australia, the coast of the South Island of New Zealand, and some of the small islands to the south and east of there. The species has two common names because the Australian and New Zealand populations don't overlap. Although the two populations show some genetic differences, their morphologies are very similar indeed, and thus remain classed as a single species.
These seals were widely hunted from shortly after the European discovery of New Zealand until the late 19th Century. The population of the New Zealand seal fell to levels under 10% of the original numbers.
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