On the trail of the elusive Weddell Seal. The southernmost breeding mammal in the world. Out with the helicopter and several researchers from Montana State, our group conducted counts of seals from McMurdo Station northward along the west coast of the Ross Sea up to the Italian Antarctic base Terra Nova. The pics and videos below are from that day, and needless to say it was amazing.
Parking on the sea ice near colonies of seals that had come up through cracks in the ice to birth their pups. Crossing ice cracks with fathoms of water below. Seals coming and going through holes and cracks. Pups days old. Some of the old seals coming onto the ice one last time to birth, and in some cases to die. So loud. Barking, groaning, whining pups, snorting, huffing. You name it, and these huge animals make the sounds. Pups can weigh up to 300 lbs in only 30 days. Adults weighing up to 1,100 lbs. We set down in several places along the coast. Near a place called Devils Punch Bowl, we were awed by a 2,000 to 3,000 ft ice fall from a glacier. This place never ceases to amaze you with its natural beauty, scale, and diversity.
Our stop at Terra Nova was wonderful as we were treated to a full tour of the comparatively small and efficient base, a full course lunch meal complete with hand made breads, cheeses, and huge rolls of salami with seafood pastas and wine on every table. Things are a little different in Italy. We began and finished the tour with fresh espressos from a more beautiful machine than I've seen in any Starbucks. Modern science and exploration is not without its select creature comforts.
The seals were being checked for tags, and if tagged seals were found, they were retagged. If the female was with a pup, the pup would be tagged on its flippers to identify it along with its mother. Some of the mothers were pretty protective and would slink along behind you wailing. This was their way of chasing you off, which worked, but the heavy females are slow on the ice and easy to avoid. Most of the time the seals remain docile and are easily approached as they have no natural predators on the ice. Tagging is accomplished by throwing a large dark bag over the seals head (adults only) and then climbing aboard to ensure that the bag stays on. The pups are simply held and tagged. Bites are possible which have serious consequences. Commonly referred to as seal finger, a nasty antibiotic resistant bacteria carried by several species of seal including the Weddell can infect a bite or a cut (if you were to get injured during butchering a seal) resulting in a systemic infection, and commonly the loss of the affected digit or appendage. So, don't get bit. And don't get rolled over on either as I mentioned in a previous blog.
Well, enjoy the pics and vid. Miss you all. Happy holidays. I've celebrated my 34th birthday and several other holidays here so far. All memorable in new and unique ways. The loss of my last grandparent, Virginia Ingram ushered out the last of an amazing generation of my family that I was blessed to have for so long. Rest in peace grandma, I hope you can see this place through my eyes, for you're the reason I'm here. She would be 92 today.
I wish you all the best to you and yours in the new year. See you in 2012.
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