The New Zealand Fur Seal was hunted almost to extinction in the early 1800's, but has been protected since 1890. Its population, although still increasing, has now largely recovered and it is a common sight around the coasts of New Zealand and southern Australia.
Like most seals, they exhibit a high degree of sexual dimorphism with the large males weighing as much as 5 times more than an average female.
The female below had caught an octopus and spent about 5 minutes struggling to consume it, with much coughing and spluttering as the tentacle suckers kept getting stuck in its throat.
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