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Weddell Seal Pups: Surviving Antarctica

In Weddell Seal Pups: Surviving Antarctica, narrator Sir David Attenborough reveals the challenges newborn seal pups face in one of the harshest environments on Earth. From enduring subzero temperatures and blizzards to entering the icy water for the first time, every decision impacts their survival. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.

Video Details
Location:
Antarctica
Grades:
3-56-8
Program:
Seven Worlds One Planet
Time:
4:30
Subject:
Science
Topic:
Life Science

Lesson Express

Q: Why is the sea ice the safest place for Weddell seals to give birth?
A: It is far from predators found in the open ocean.

Q: Why is birth so shocking for a seal pup?
A: It experiences a dramatic drop in temperature, from the warmth of the womb to the freezing ice.

Q: Why is water warmer than the ice for the pup?
A: Water at 35°F (-2°C) is warmer than lying on ice in the freezing wind.

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