What caused elephant seals to decrease their population?

Answer 1

Elephant seals experienced a dramatic decline in population primarily due to extensive hunting in the 19th century for their blubber, which was used for oil. Additionally, habitat loss and environmental changes contributed to their decline. By the early 20th century, they were nearly extinct, but conservation efforts and legal protections have since allowed their numbers to recover significantly. Today, they are primarily found along the coasts of California and the North Pacific.