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 (pinnae), relatively long and muscular foreflippers, and the ability to walk on all fours. They are marked by their dense underfur, which made them a long-time object of commercial hunting. Eight species belong to the genus Arctocephalus and are found primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, while a ninth species also sometimes called fur seal, the Northern fur seal, belongs to a different genus and inhabits the North Pacific. The fur seals in Arctocephalus are more closely related to sea lions than they are to the Northern fur seal, but all three groups are more closely related to one another than they are to true seals.
Sea lions are pinnipeds characterized by external ear flaps, long foreflippers, the ability to walk on all fours, short and thick hair, and a big chest and belly. Together with the fur seals, they make up the family Otariidae, eared seals. The sea lions have six extant and one extinct species in five genera. Their range extends from the subarctic to tropical waters of the global ocean in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with the notable exception of the northern Atlantic Ocean. They have an average lifespan of 20–30 years. A male California sea lion weighs on average about 300 kg (660 lb) and is about 2.4 m (8 ft) long, while the female sea lion weighs 100 kg (220 lb) and is 1.8 m (6 ft) long. The largest sea lions are Steller's sea lions, which can weigh 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) and grow to a length of 3.0 m (10 ft). Sea lions consume large quantities of food at a time and are known to eat about 5–8% of their body weight at a single feeding. Sea lions can move around 16 knots in water and at their fastest they can reach a speed of about 30 knots. Three species, the Australian sea lion, the Galápagos sea lion and the New Zealand sea lion, are listed as endangered.
The Spencer Gulf is the westernmost and larger of two large inlets on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of South Australia, facing the Great Australian Bight. It spans from the Cape Catastrophe and Eyre Peninsula in the west to Cape Spencer and Yorke Peninsula in the east.
Selkies are mythological creatures that can shapeshift between seal and human forms by removing or putting on their seal skin. They feature prominently in the oral traditions and mythology of various cultures, especially those of Celtic and Norse origin. The term “selkie” derives from the Scots word for “seal”, and is also spelled as silkies, sylkies, or selchies. Selkies are sometimes referred to as selkie folk, meaning 'seal folk'. Selkies are mainly associated with the Northern Isles of Scotland, where they are said to live as seals in the sea but shed their skin to become human on land.
The Secret of Roan Inish is a 1994 independent fantasy-adventure film written and directed by John Sayles. It is based on the 1957 novel Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry, by Rosalie K. Fry.
The Australian sea lion, also known as the Australian sea-lion or Australian sealion, is a species of sea lion that is the only endemic pinniped in Australia. It is currently monotypic in the genus Neophoca, with the extinct Pleistocene New Zealand sea lion Neophoca palatina the only known congener. With a population estimated at 14,730 animals, the Wildlife Conservation Act of Western Australia (1950) has listed them as "in need of special protection". Their Conservation status is listed as endangered. These pinnipeds are specifically known for their abnormal breeding cycles, which are varied between a 5-month breeding cycle and a 17-18 month aseasonal breeding cycle, compared to other pinnipeds which fit into a 12-month reproductive cycle. Females are either silver or fawn with a cream underbelly and males are dark brown with a yellow mane and are bigger than the females.
Kalsoy is an island in the north-east of the Faroe Islands of Denmark between Eysturoy and Kunoy. The name means man island; by contrast with the parallel island to the east, Kunoy, the name of which means woman island.
Port Noarlunga is a suburb in the City of Onkaparinga, South Australia. It is a small sea-side suburb, with a population of 2,918, about 30 kilometres to the south of the Adelaide city centre and was originally created as a sea port. This area is now popular as a holiday destination or for permanent residents wishing to commute to Adelaide or work locally. There is a jetty that connects to a 1.6 kilometres natural reef that is exposed at low tide.
Seaford Rangers are a soccer club from Seaford, South Australia. Seaford play in the South Australian State League. Their home ground is at Karingal Reserve. They have a strong support group, known as The Norseman St Elite (NSE). Famous old boys of the group include, Ryan (Ducklegs) Babbage, Davey (Foxy) Moore, Stephen Hawkins, Daniel Frayne, Steve Kovacs, Mark (Gramps) Griffins, Adam (Treeni/Head) Treen, Graham Powell, Andrew Dickinson, Brad Andrews, Ryan Hancock, Peter (Udey) Smart. Recent Members include Ben Hansen (maca), Job Thiele (duck), and Jake Hansen (535)
Sick Puppies are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1997. After releasing their debut album Welcome to the Real World in 2001, the band rose to prominence in 2006 when their song "All the Same" was uploaded, along with a video, to YouTube. The video supported the Free Hugs Campaign, which was launched in Sydney by Juan Mann, and has since received over 78 million views on the website. This success was followed up with their second studio album, Dressed Up as Life, in 2007, which entered the Billboard 200 at number 181. Their third studio album, Tri-Polar, came out in 2009. The band's fourth studio album, Connect, was released in 2013. They released their fifth studio album, Fury, in 2016 with new vocalist Bryan Scott after Shimon Moore was fired from the band in October 2014.
Victor Harbor Road is a major road in South Australia that runs south from Main South Road at Old Noarlunga on the southern fringes of suburban Adelaide to Victor Harbor on the Fleurieu Peninsula. It is designated part of route A13.
Ondine is a 2009 Irish romantic drama film written and directed by Neil Jordan and starring Colin Farrell and Alicja Bachleda. The film was shot on location in Castletownbere, and it touches upon the possible existence of the mythological selkie bringing hope and love to humanity.
Shimon "Shim" Moore is an Australian rock musician, songwriter, producer, performing artist, as well as a TV and film actor.
The Southern Argus is a newspaper first published from March 1866 in Port Elliot, South Australia, and then in Strathalbyn from 1868 to the present. It is published on Thursdays.
Seal Island, also known as Seal Rock, is an island in the Australian state of South Australia located in Encounter Bay off the south coast of Fleurieu Peninsula approximately 2.7 kilometres south-east of Victor Harbor. It is located with the boundaries of the following protected areas - the West Island Conservation Park and the Encounter Marine Park.
Seal Island is an island located in Investigator Strait off the south coast of Yorke Peninsula in the Australian state of South Australia about 7 kilometres south south-west of Stenhouse Bay. Since 1972, it has been part of the Althorpe Islands Conservation Park.
Nicolas Baudin Island is an island in the Australian state of South Australia about 500 metres west of Cape Blanche on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula about 25 kilometres south south-west of the town of Streaky Bay. The island is notable as a breeding site for Australian sea lions. The island has enjoyed protected area status since 2003 when it became part of the Nicolas Baudin Island Conservation Park.
Seal culling in South Australia has particularly targeted Arctophocaforsteri, the indigenous long-nosed fur seal. Beginning in the last years of the 18th century, both fur seals and Australian sea lions were hunted along the south-east coast of the Australian continent. They were a valuable source of leather, and their bodies were rendered to obtain oil, which was used as lamp fuel, cooking oil, a lubricant, a constituent of soap, the liquid base for red ochre paint, and for processing materials such as leather and jute.
Dangerous Reef is an island and reef system located in the Spencer Gulf in the Australian state of South Australia about 32.5 kilometres (20.2 mi) east-southeast of the city, Port Lincoln. It is the southernmost member of the Sir Joseph Banks Group. It has been the site of a navigation aid since 1911. It is notable as the site of a breeding colony of Australian sea lions. The waters adjoining its shore are notable as a place to view great white sharks to the extent that it was both a popular gamefishing and shark cage diving venue during the twentieth century, and was used to film footage for Blue Water White Death and Jaws. The island has enjoyed protected area status since 1900 and it has been part of the Sir Joseph Banks Group Conservation Park since 1989.
