Caribbean Monk Seal Research Paper
The Caribbean Monk Seal was last seen in the early 1950’s but were officially extinct in 2008. It is known that their predators were sharks and humans. This is the first seal specie to go extinct due to human actions.
These seals were first discovered during Columbus’s second voyage in 1494 for the reason that eight of these monk seals were killed for their meat. During the 1700’s-1900’s, these seals were used for their blubber and sometimes eaten. Their blubber was then turned into oil and used for lubrication. They would coat the bottom of their ships with this and even use it as cooking oil. Their skin was used for clothing, trunk linings, and bags.
These seals were first discovered during Columbus’s second voyage in 1494 for the reason that eight of these monk seals were killed for their meat. During the 1700’s-1900’s, these seals were used for their blubber and sometimes eaten. Their blubber was then turned into oil and used for lubrication. They would coat the bottom of their ships with this and even use it as cooking oil. Their skin was used for clothing, trunk linings, and bags.