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The seals frequently visit popular tourist beaches, often giving birth there, which creates a hazard for both the seal and the human, as mothers are aggressive and protective of their young.
In January 2023, media reports indicated that seals have been attacking humans in South Africa, particularly in Cape Town area. Scientists believed it was due to the presence of a brain-altering poison in the fish they consume. The poison affects their behaviour making them more aggressive towards humans.
However, attacks on humans are rare. Most human perceptions of leopard seals are shaped by historic encounters between humans and leopard seals that occurred during the early days of Antarctic exploration. [44] Examples of aggressive behaviour, stalking and attacks are rare, but have been documented. [45]
Other human-introduced pathogens, including leptospirosis, have infected monk seals. [40] Human disturbances have had immense effects on the populations of the Hawaiian monk seal. Monk seals tend to avoid beaches where they are disturbed; after continual disturbance the seal may completely abandon the beach, thus reducing its habitat size ...
It can also lead to aggression and violence, experts say, but cases like Card’s that result in mass violence are rare. “These high-profile cases, thankfully, are few and far between,” Stone ...
Monk seals are earless seals of the tribe Monachini.They are the only earless seals found in tropical climates. The two genera of monk seals, Monachus and Neomonachus, comprise three species: the Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus; the Hawaiian monk seal, Neomonachus schauinslandi; and the Caribbean monk seal, Neomonachus tropicalis, which became extinct in the 20th century.
As of July 2015, the killing of long-nosed fur seals remains an illegal act. Human activity near seal rookeries has been correlated with distress and panic, resulting in indirect deaths of pups. [15] The use of metal cattle ear tags on pups has also been associated with a decrease in pup fitness due to incomplete healing of the tag site. [15]
Fur seals are any of nine species of pinnipeds belonging to the subfamily Arctocephalinae in the family Otariidae.They are much more closely related to sea lions than true seals, and share with them external ears (), relatively long and muscular foreflippers, and the ability to walk on all fours.