Swim First, Hunt Later: Young Weddell Seals Need to Practice Navigating Before Hunting
Published:20 Jun.2021 Source:California Polytechnic State University
They're cute, they're furry, and they start diving into frigid Antarctic waters at 2 weeks old. According to a new study from California Polytechnic State University, Weddell seal pups may be one of the only types of seals to learn to swim from their mothers.
Weddell seals are the southernmost born mammal and come into the world in the coldest environment of any mammal. These extreme conditions may explain the unusually long time they spend with their mothers.