Saturday, June 07, 2008

RIP Caribbean Monk Seal

Extinct.

It also looks like a couple of related species are also on the ropes.
The federal agency says there are fewer than 1,200 Hawaiian and 500 Mediterranean monk seals remaining, and their populations are declining.
... and ...
Monk seals are particularly sensitive to human disturbance. And the sea creatures have been losing their food supply and beaches, officials say.

"Once Hawaii, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean were teeming with fish, but these are areas under severe fishing pressure," Cornish said. "They'll eat almost anything — shellfish or finned fish — but their food supply is waning and they're in competition with man."
Do people realize that, when an animal loses their food supply, the chances are extremely great that our food supply is going to be threatened as well?

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