During a fortunate opportunity as part of a research team studying population ecology of Weddell seals in the Antarctic, Jessica Farrer and myself were able to record this video of one of the seal pups, recently weaned by its mother and on its own to learn how to survive. A pup must first get in the water to be successful as a seal! For more information on the ongoing long-term research, check out the project's website: www.weddellsealscience.com Footage was obtained under NMFS Permit No. 1032-1917. Originally posted for: www.aspiringecologist.com