Snapshots from Antarcticathe journey heritage ice and snow Mount Erebus scenic vistas fellow travellers life saver wildlife albatross penguins petrel and skua seals whales
Among the many animals that live in Antarctica are a variety of marine mammals known as seals and sea lions. There are a number of species to be found in the Antarctic including Crabeater seals, Elephant seals, Antarctic Fur seals, Leopard seals, Ross seals, Sea lions and Weddell seals. Once hunted to near extinction, seals are now protected.
The Hooker’s Sea Lions (Phocarctos hookeri), also known as New Zealand Sea Lions, are one of only five species of sea lions in the world.
Leopard Seals can be seen often on the pack-ice surrounding the Antarctic continent. A solitary animal, they are known to travel some distance from the Antarctic with recorded sightings in Tasmania and Heron Island.
The Elephant seals are named after the large proboscis (nose) seen on the adult males. The proboscis is used by the adult males for making loud roaring sounds during the mating seasons. The adult male can weigh up to 3,000 kg, whilst the adult female can weigh between 300 to 900 kg just prior to giving birth. Whilst the Elephant seals may look big and cumbersome on land, once they are in the ocean, they are superb swimmers and divers. They have been recorded as being able to dive up to two kilometres deep and hold their breath under water for up to two hours.
Weddell seals were discovered and named in the 1820s by James Weddell, during expeditions to the part of the Southern Ocean now known as the Weddell Sea. The seals have a circumpolar distribution, and are found around the entire Antarctic continent. They are coastal, preferring to stay around fast ice and venturing no further than 15-20 km into the Southern Ocean to feed. The Weddell seals haul-out onto the fast-ice to rest, moult and for the females to pup.
Footnote & References
- Antarctic Travel Photographs © Jennifer Cooke (and fellow travellers)
- Additional Antarctic Travel Photographs © to fellow travellers (courtesy of Jennifer Cooke)
Snapshots from Antarcticathe journey heritage ice and snow Mount Erebus scenic vistas fellow travellers life saver wildlife albatross penguins petrel and skua seals whales
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