Australian fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus: pup numbers at Lady Julia Percy Island, Victoria, and a synthesis of the species' population status

Abstract

The abundance of Australian fur seal pups was determined at Lady Julia Percy Island in early January 2000 when the average age of pups was 5 weeks. A mark-recapture procedure with repeated recapture sessions was used to estimate abundance of pups in six accessible breeding areas. Pups (n = 1836) were marked by clipping guard hair on the head. Recaptures were conducted visually on 2-4 occasions, when a mean of 41% of sighted pups had been marked. Pup numbers were calculated using a modified Petersen estimate and combined by taking their arithmetic mean. The combined estimate in the accessible breeding areas was 4487 380 pups were counted at two inaccessible sites and 347 dead pups were recorded. Overall, the estimate of abundance for Lady Julia Percy Island was 5214 pups. This exceeds three previous estimates of doubtful veracity for pupping seasons in 1935-36, 1975-76 and 1986-87, and is the greatest number of pups recorded at any Australian fur seal colony. Summation of the most recent estimates of abundance of Australian fur seal pups in all colonies indicates pup production of 16 900 per annum in the 1990s. New Zealand fur seals were also breeding on the island (a mating and four new-born pups were recorded) and two adult male Australian sea lions were observed.