Australian fur seal is the world's fourth-rarest seal species. It was hunted to the brink of extinction last century.They spend most of their time in the sea and come ashore to breed on rocky islands and beaches. Fur seals are excellent swimmers but they can also get around out of the water by raising the front of their body onto their front flippers.The males are larger than the females and can weigh up to 350kg. Males are usually brown or dark grey and have a coarse mane on their neck and shoulders. Females weigh up to 120kg and are more slender and a slivery grey colour with a brown underside.