Wildlife

Weddell Seal Welfare Under Antarctic Ice

Weddell seals are remarkable year-round Antarctic residents maintaining breathing holes in sea ice, facing research disturbance and climate-driven habitat change.

Key Facts

Weddell seals are among the most southerly breeding mammals on Earth
They maintain breathing holes in sea ice using their teeth, which wear significantly over time
They dive deeper than 600 metres to feed on fish under the ice
Weddell seal populations are monitored at McMurdo Sound providing long-term data
Tooth wear from ice maintenance eventually limits the lifespan of aging individuals

Welfare Considerations

Tooth wear from maintaining breathing holes causes reduced ability to fish in old animals, leading to starvation. Research handling for tagging causes acute stress in a species with limited human exposure. Climate-driven sea ice changes alter the distribution of suitable breathing hole sites. Pups separated from mothers face starvation. In good years, Weddell seals are well-adapted to their extreme environment.

What You Can Do

Support Antarctic research programs monitoring Weddell seal population health
Donate to long-term Antarctic ecological monitoring programs
Advocate for Antarctic Treaty System protections
Support climate action protecting Antarctic sea ice extent
Engage with Antarctic tourism operators on responsible seal encounter guidelines