The Weddell seals of Larsen Harbour, South Georgia: a unique but apparently declining colony

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Author: Burton, Robert
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2015
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Weddell; Larsen Harbour; Polar Record; Sea ice; Weddell Seals
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247414000953; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247414000953

ABSTRACT The small population of Weddell seals at Larsen Harbour, South Georgia, is isolated from the rest of the species and is unique because nearly all pups are born on land rather than on sea-ice. Observations of seals in Larsen Harbour during the breeding season are summarised. These have been infrequent until cruise ships started to visit. With often only a single observation in a year, accurate estimates of pup production are impossible but it appears that the population has decreased over the last three decades.