Seal pupping season is underway!

National Science Foundation
Office of Polar Programs
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22230

Posted November 16, 2020

Despite a reduced research team and logistical challenges this season, the NSF funded Weddell seal research team from Montana State University continues its seal population study in the Erebus Bay region of Antarctica's Ross Sea. This population of seals is the most southerly breeding population of mammal in the world and has been intensely studied since 1968. That's a lot of seal data!

The team had to endure a lengthy quarantine process on their way to the ice to keep #Antarctica COVID-free, and most of their travels this season have been done by helicopter rather than snowmobile due to the amount of open water around their research location. As the task of tagging new seal pups wraps up, the focus for the next few months will be on population surveys.

Read more on their website: http://weddellsealscience.com/

Follow the team on Instagram: @weddellsealscience

This research is being conducted under NMFS Permits 1032-1917, 17236, & 21158.