The Polar Duke slowly but surely made its way into Deception Island's harbor, breaking ice as it went. We saw crabeater seals lying on the ice.
Crabeater seals are the most abundant seal species on Earth. It is estimated that about 20 million crabeaters now live in Antarctica, and that there will be about 50 million by the year 2000. Crabeater seals are also one of the largest seal species--the average adult weighs about 193 kilograms (425 pounds). Their main food is krill, but they eat fish and squid on occasion.
I have read that crabeater seals are not particularly sociable. This I can attest to--most of the ones I saw hissed and huffed at the approaching Polar Duke.
. They finally scooched away over the ice like huge inchworms, flopping with controlled fury into the nearest water hole.--Vicki Johns
Source:
Moss, Sanford A. Natural History of the Antarctic Peninsula. New York: Columbia University Press, 1988.
Photo by J.D. Goodlaxson, Martin Marietta Energy Systems