Perhaps the most well-known and 'appealing' of all the Antarctic seals, the Weddell seal lives farther south than any other mammal, inhabiting the waters of McMurdo Sound, 1,300 kilometers from the South Pole. These relatively placid animals are usually found in large groups on fast pack ice (ice attached to the continent) and can be easily approached by humans. Most of their time, however, is spent in the frigid Antarctic waters beneath several meters of ice, only emerging through cracks and blowholes to breathe, rest, and have their pups. This environment is relatively safe from other air breathing predators such as killer whales and leopard seals. Hunted in the past for oil, food, and skins, Weddell seal numbers are currently stable.

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This site was last updated 08/31/10