A Weddell seal pup was born

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At Rothera research station, we had the delight of witnessing the birth of Weddell seal pups on the sea ice. I was lucky enough to experience this twice across two Antarctic winters in 2021 and 2022.


It is absolutely fantastic to watch the Weddell seals grow from a tiny slick, slithery mass to a beautiful, furry pup. 

There was great excitement on station when the pup was born on 18th September 2022. The placenta of the mother stands in stark contrast against the ice! Most of the station skipped dinner to run outside and observe mother and pup on the sea ice, just outside the dining room. It doesn't get much better than that.

Photo from 18th September 2022 -the pup is so small and dark (covered in slimy birth products), it's barely visible.

Just a day later on 19th September 2022, kelp gulls are looking for any remains of placenta. 'Keep away from the baby seal' said my internal monologue from behind the camera lens.

20th September 2022 - two day old pup feeding.

21st September 2022 - the three day old pup and mum endured strong winds with max gusts of 66 knots.

25th September 2022- pup and mum lazily soaking up the Antarctic sun.

Weddell seals are the southernly most breeding seal. Females can spend up to two weeks with their new pup on the ice before returning to the water, whilst still weaning one or two pups until they are ~55 days old. For every 1 kg the pup gains, the mother looses 2 kg.

The following photos are of the pup as it continue to pester its mum for milk. The sea ice is fragmenting and soon it will be time to leave the ice.

A changing climate brings changes to the duration and extent of the sea ice. It is more common that the sea ice is breaking up before the pup has finished weening. 








 

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