Happy mothers day to human and animal mothers everywhere from The Antarctic Book of Cooking and Cleaning. Precious pups.
Copyright Paul Ward, from Hope for the Best Tumblr
from Smithsonian Zoological Park Aquatic Ecosystems
“Usually, a single pup is born but twins have been reported. Newborns weigh about 30 kg at birth, are covered with soft, gray pelage that is molted in four to six weeks to the adult pelage. At birth, young have a full compliment of adult teeth. Pup survival appears to increase with age and experience of the mother with the highest pup mortality occurring to first-time mothers.
Weddell seal mothers remain with their pups and fast for at least part of lactation and lose considerable body mass during lactation. When lactating females resume foraging, they may dive deeper and longer to catch in an effort to restore their own energy stores, which have been depleted during lactation. Pups are weaned at about six weeks and reach full adult size in about three years. Reproduction generally appears to be delayed until age four to five for females and six to seven for males.
After weaning, Weddell seal pups leave their natal area and move along the Antarctic continent shoreline gradually perfecting their foraging skills. They will sometimes use pack ice for hauling out, but prefer to remain closer to the coastline than adults do.”
Smithsonian
The National Zoo’s Antarctica Expedition is sponsored by the National Science Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs.
All photographs depicting Weddell seals were taken under NMFS Permit No. 763-1485-00 issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Not only are seal pups adorable, they are smart says Surprising Science, article:
Baby Weddell Seals Have the Most Adult-Like Brains in the Animal Kingdom
Samuel Blanc
ps happily, at this time Weddell seals are not officially considered endangered, but they are a protected animal. (the IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature considers them an animal of Least Concern. Humans are also in this category.) Are humans endangered? Lets go for not!
For more photos by Paul Ward and great Weddell seal details see Cool Antarctica
