Editing Elephant seal (section)

==Status==
The [[International Union for Conservation of Nature|IUCN]] lists both species of elephant seal as being of [[least concern]], although they are still threatened by entanglement in [[marine debris]], fishery interactions, and boat collisions. Though a complete population count of elephant seals is not possible because all age classes are not ashore at the same time, a 2005 study of the California breeding stock estimated approximately 124,000 individuals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://media.fisheries.noaa.gov/dam-migration/po2007sene-ca_508.pdf|title=NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL (Mirounga angustirostris) : California Breeding Stock |website=Media.fisheries.noaa.gov|access-date=19 March 2022}}</ref> The animal is protected in most countries where it lives. In Mexico, the northern elephant seal is protected in the [[Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve]] where it was rediscovered after being believed to be extinct.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krieger |first=Lisa M. |date=2024-01-20 |title=Once nearly extinct, Elephant seals staking claims |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/mar/05/once-nearly-extinct-elephant-seals-staking-claims/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=The Columbian |language=en-US}}</ref>