This has been probably the most unusual Weddell seal pupping season in the project's 51 year history. First, the lengthy quarantines the three person team went through to get to the Ice and keep Antarctica Covid-free. Then the closeness of the sea ice edge this season, which prevents vehicular travel north of the Erebus Glacier Tongue where numerous Weddell seal pupping colonies are located. (All photos by team member Will MacDonald.)
Notes lead project scientist Dr. Jay Rotella, "Our team is making the best of the season and collecting lots of useful data thanks to the great support from many people that work at McMurdo Station and from the National Science Foundation. Pups are being born at a rapid clip though that should start to slow down pretty dramatically in another week or so."
"For the next 6-7 weeks, the team will start to focus more of their time on population surveys. By mid-December, we’ll know a lot more about pup production and the size of the adult population size in this interesting year," reports Dr. Rotella.
-Mary Lynn Price
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