| Heavy hunting reduced the number of northern elephant seals to as few as 20 individuals in the 19th century. Their numbers have rebounded significantly since a ban on seal hunting became effective in the early 20th century. However, all living northern elephant seals descended from the small group that survived the severe hunting of the 19th century. This so-called population bottleneck drastically reduced the genetic diversity of northern elephant seal populations, leaving the animals vulnerable to disease and other environmental pressures. The male northern elephant seal, right, typically weighs more than three times the female seal, left. |
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