Seals (Pinnipedia) at Norfolk Island, south-west Pacific

Five seals were observed at Norfolk Island (29°S, 168°E) between 2000 and 2013. Two have been identified as Arctocephalus forsteri on the basis of photographs, a juvenile or weaned pup that weighed 9.5 kg and a subadult male. The nearest known aggregation of these fur seals is at Three Kings Islands (34°S, 172°E), 700 km to the south-east. Because New Zealand fur seals are increasing in abundance in New Zealand and Australia, sightings of vagrant fur seals at Norfolk Island are likely to increase.