H-23 



RESEARCH PROGRAMMES 



harem break-up the Fur Seals disperse. Their distribution and feeding habits in the winter are 

 unknown. 



(0 Southern Elephant Seal. 



This species is similar to the Southern Fur Seal in that it congregates on beaches to have 

 pups and mate. The total mid-year population has been estimated at about 600 000 with the 

 largest population (370 000) on South Georgia (Laws, 1960). The first mature bulls establish 

 territories in September and the breeding season lasts until mid-November. Elephant Seals do 

 not feed during the breeding season nor during the period of moult that follows. Their primary 

 food is cephalopods and fish, but in what proportion is not known. 



Although almost exterminated at South Georgia in the 19th century, the numbers under 

 protection were increased and the species was the subject of a successful nationally managed 

 industry, which took only adult males from 1910 to 1964; the sustainable yield appeared to be 

 about 6 000 (Laws, 1960). 



PLATE 4. Minkc Whales in Normanna Strait, South Orkney Islands. 



2. Antarctic whales. 



Tlie whales include the baleen whales (Mysticeti) and toothed whales (Odontoceti). The 

 waters surrounding the Antarctic continent are inhabited by the following five species of the 

 large baleen whales: Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus. Fin Whale B. physalus. Sei Whale 

 8. borealis. Humpback Whale Megaptera iiovaeangliae and the Sperm S^\vd\e Fhyseter catttdon. 

 the only large odontocete. The smaller Minke Whale Balaenoptera aaitorostrata also inhabits 

 these waters, and the Southern Right Whale Eubalaena australis occasionally migrates into the 



