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Long-nosed Fur Seal
Arctocephalus forsteri
Silhouette: Pseudopanax and GoEThe · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderCarnivora (Carnivorans)
- FamilyOtariidae (Eared Seals)
- GenusArctocephalus (Southern Fur Seals)
- SpeciesArctocephalus forsteri (Long-nosed Fur Seal)
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
75 Verified sightings at Sydney
557 In all 5 parks From 2019 to 2026
July Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
About the Long-nosed Fur Seal
Arctocephalus forsteri (common names include the Australasian fur seal, South Australian fur seal, New Zealand fur seal, Antipodean fur seal, or long-nosed fur seal) is a species of fur seal found mainly around southern Australia and New Zealand. The name New Zealand fur seal is used by English speakers in New Zealand; kekeno is used in the Māori language. As of 2014, the common name long-nosed fur seal has been proposed for the population of seals inhabiting Australia.
Although the Australian and New Zealand populations show some genetic differences, their morphologies are very similar, and thus they remain classed as a single species. After the arrival of humans in New Zealand, and particularly after the arrival of Europeans in Australia and New Zealand, hunting reduced the population to near-extinction.
Males have been reported as large as 160 kg (350 lb); their average weight is about 126 kg (278 lb). Males can be 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long. Females are between 30 and 50 kg (66–110 lbs) on average, and can be as long as 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in). Newborn pups are 3.3–3.9 kg (7.3–8.6 lbs) on average, and between 40 and 55 cm (1.3–1.8 ft) long. At 290 days old males are about... Wikipedia →
Sounds
Recording0:20
New Zealand · 2026
© Joseph Knight · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recent sightings of Long-nosed Fur Seal in Sydney
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Flinders Chase | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Rottnest Island | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giza Zoo | 🇪🇬 Egypt | |
| 2 | Taronga Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Melbourne Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Auckland Zoo | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Sea Life Sunshine Coast | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Closest Relatives at Sydney
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Long-nosed Fur Seal in Sydney?
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Long-nosed Fur Seal sighting in Sydney on a given day, based on 75 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 10th most-seen of the 22 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Long-nosed Fur Seal in Sydney?
March–October and December
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Long-nosed Fur Seal in Sydney on a given day, against under 5% in January–February and November, the lowest months.
What time of day is best to see a Long-nosed Fur Seal?
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Long-nosed Fur Seal sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Sydney the best place to see a Long-nosed Fur Seal?
Among the best
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Long-nosed Fur Seal sightings, Sydney ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Auckland (New Zealand, about 10%).
Where does the Long-nosed Fur Seal sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Long-nosed Fur Seal is recorded against all the mammals logged in Sydney (75 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
