A Weddell Seal Family's Journey
In A Weddell Seal Family's Journey, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how a mother seal and her pup brave the freezing cold near the South Pole. These seals are the only animals that can survive here, staying warm thanks to a thick layer of fat beneath their skin and their special fur. The mother feeds her pup and carefully maintains their diving hole in the water to prevent it from freezing over, ensuring they can get air. And, at just one week old, the pup takes its first swim beneath the ice! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
Lesson Express
Q: Why do you think the thick layer of fat under the seals' skin is so important for their survival in the freezing cold?
A: The fat layer helps keep the seals warm by acting like a natural blanket, trapping heat inside their bodies and protecting them from the freezing temperatures near the South Pole.
Q: How do you think the mother Weddell seal's actions, like keeping the air hole open, help her pup?
A: By keeping the air hole from freezing over, the mother ensures that both she and her pup can breathe and stay safe. This helps them avoid being trapped under the ice, where they could run out of air.
Q: Why is it important for the baby Weddell seal to start swimming so early in its life?
A: Swimming early helps the pup get used to life in the water, where it will need to dive to find food and survive. It also helps build its strength and confidence in the cold, icy waters.
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