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Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina)

The Southern Elephant Seal is a large marine mammal with a circumpolar distribution. In Australia, breeding occurs at Macquarie Island; seals use beaches and other coastal sites to breed, moult and rest, and forage at sea.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Rare.

Tasmania, Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: Endangered.

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed marine. A listed marine species under Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Killing, injuring, taking or moving it in a Commonwealth area needs a permit.

Seasonal planning

Breeding visits to subantarctic islands occur from September to November, and moulting visits from January to April.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Breeding and moult: Breeding visits to subantarctic islands occur from September to November, and moulting visits from January to April.

Identification: Appearance

Adults have rusty grey-brown to silver-grey or brown pelage and thick blubber. Mature males have a large trunk-like proboscis; males are much larger than females.

Adults have rusty grey-brown to silver-grey or brown pelage and thick blubber. Mature males have a large trunk-like proboscis; males are much larger than females.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The species is circumpolar in the Southern Hemisphere and is most common in subantarctic waters. Macquarie Island is the closest breeding area to Tasmania, where the species formerly bred on King Island; vagrants are also recorded in Australia.

The species is circumpolar in the Southern Hemisphere and is most common in subantarctic waters. Macquarie Island is the closest breeding area to Tasmania, where the species formerly bred on King Island; vagrants are also recorded in Australia.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

Southern Elephant Seals spend much of their lives at sea, ranging through the Southern Ocean to forage. They haul out on sandy or cobble beaches, but also use sea ice, snow, rocky terraces, vegetation and mud wallows.

Southern Elephant Seals spend much of their lives at sea, ranging through the Southern Ocean to forage. They haul out on sandy or cobble beaches, but also use sea ice, snow, rocky terraces, vegetation and mud wallows.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Their diet includes squid and fish, with squid reported as the main food. Other recorded prey include molluscs, krill and cephalopods.

Their diet includes squid and fish, with squid reported as the main food. Other recorded prey include molluscs, krill and cephalopods.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Females generally give birth annually. Southern Elephant Seals visit subantarctic islands to breed, and females and males differ greatly in size.

Females generally give birth annually. Southern Elephant Seals visit subantarctic islands to breed, and females and males differ greatly in size.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Seals come ashore to rest and moult after extended periods at sea, and may remain ashore for up to four or five weeks. Haul-out sites include beaches, rocky areas and vegetated ground.

Seals come ashore to rest and moult after extended periods at sea, and may remain ashore for up to four or five weeks. Haul-out sites include beaches, rocky areas and vegetated ground.

Threats: Threats

The sealing industry wiped out the former breeding population on King Island in Tasmania.

The sealing industry wiped out the former breeding population on King Island in Tasmania.

Threats: Works risk

Avoid disturbing seals at haul-out sites, where they may remain ashore for several weeks to rest or moult. The source advises that they should not be disturbed during this time.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

Breeding colonies have been documented using remotely piloted aircraft system-derived orthomosaics. Tracking and telemetry studies have also been used to investigate movements and foraging areas at sea.

Survey methodology: 2. Commonwealth guidance

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the ePBC Act publications, including the National Guidelines for the Survey of Cetaceans, Marine Turtles and the Dugong (2024), read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 3. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Plan in-water works, vessel movements and lighting to avoid known habitat and sensitive periods, and set observer and shutdown procedures before works start.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Use spotters and exclusion zones for in-water works and vessels, and pause works if the species is seen within the zone.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Remove temporary structures, restore natural flow and substrate, and monitor water quality until it returns to baseline.

Sources