Others are killed by human hunters. In the 1890s, uncontrolled hunting reduced the population to less than 100,000 animals. Since the early 1900s, researchers estimate that more controlled hunts have killed more than 3 million seals -- but still allowed the population to rebound.

Golden seal pups embark on long journeys.

South Africa banned seal hunting in 1990. However, Namibia last year allowed hunters to kill 67,000. Government officials say the hunt is necessary to prevent the seals from competing with fishermen for anchovies and other economically important fish. But critics say the 60,000 seal pups were clubbed to death for their fur, while the 7,000 adult males were killed for their sex organs, which are sold in Asia as aphrodisiacs. Seal oil is also a valuable commodity.

Young seals that survive the hunt face other threats. The mammals are a favorite food for sharks and killer whales, for instance. But the seals are also fierce predators themselves, slashing through schools of fish for a meal, or diving down 600 feet deep to chase squid. Sometimes, they even learn to ambush swimming birds from below, pulling them beneath the waves.

Fueled by such fare, the seals can grow quickly and live up to 25 years. Females can reach 5 feet long and weigh 225 pounds. The males can be far more massive. A 10-year old bull male, for instance, may reach 7 feet and 750 pounds.

As GOLDEN SEALS shows, however, the reign of a seal king is short. Most do not win breeding rights until they are 8 to 12 years old. Then, they are able to fend off rivals for just a few years before younger, bigger males take their place. During the few brief weeks of breeding season, however, the seal may father dozens of pups -- one of which may one day inherit its father's wet, sandy throne along Africa's rugged Skeleton Coast.