Page 68 - World of Animals - Issue #30

Explore the Earth

Spot six kinds of seal

Six of the 35 species of seal can be found in and around
Antarctica, and together, they form the largest seal
population on the planet. The Antarctic mainland and its
surrounding islands have been cut off from the rest of
the world for hundreds of thousands of years, and in this
isolated environment there are no native land predators.
Arctic seals have to contend with polar bears and human
hunters, but here they can move on land undisturbed.
The largest Antarctic species is the southern elephant
seals, which can grow to be more than four metres (13
feet) in length, and next are the leopard seals and Ross
seals at around three metres (9.8 feet). Leopard seals are
carnivores, and are particularly fond of gentoo penguins.
Cruises travelling through the Antarctic will give you a
chance to encounter these impressive marine mammals.
However, they are easily spooked by loud noises and can
stay submerged for up to 15 minutes, so you’ll need to be
patient and keep your eyes peeled.

See the snow

petrels soaring

The British Antarctic Survey describe
snow petrels as “possibly the most
beautiful birds in the Antarctic”. They
have pure white outer feathers, delicate
black beaks and eyes, and a hidden layer
of fluffy black down to keep them warm.

They breed during the Antarctic
summer, making their nests on cliffs and
rocks, and for the remainder of the year,
they tend to stick to pack ice and ice
floes. Like many other Antarctic animals,

they rely on the open water for food.
Snow petrels are agile in the air, and

when hunting, they fly low over the open

water. They feed on krill, fish, squid and
crustaceans, and catch most of their
food by dipping their beaks down just

below the surface while still in flight. They
sometimes even dive into the icy water to
chase after their prey.
For birding enthusiasts, look into the
two-day boat trips that run from Ushuaia,
Argentina, down the Beagle Channel and
across the Drake Passage. These marine
voyages are ideal for spotting snow
petrels and many other Antarctic birds,
including terns, cormorants and fulmars.

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