Man captures footage of Antarctic fur seal swimming

With 5 million Antarctic fur seal residing on the island, South Georgia contains 95 percent of the species’ population. Though the Antarctic climate and largely barren region makes it possible for only hardy grasses and tundra plants to grow, the remote area in the South Atlantic Ocean is lush with wildlife, like penguins, whales, albatrosses and seals.

On January 21, one Instagram user, Mike Payne, shared a stunning video of the seal in South Georgia.

“It’s amazing to watch how effortlessly these fur seals move through the water,” Payne wrote in the caption.

In the clip, a seal plunges into crystal-clear blue waters. Payne, fortunately, is able to capture its movements underwater, where the lone seal swims and spins gracefully.

“This is such an amazing video,” one user wrote.

“I could keep watching it over and over,” another said.

Despite low temperatures, fur seals are able to keep warm underwater because their dense coats contain 60,000 hairs per square centimeter. They can be easily recognized by their short snout and their dark brown or grey color.

However, the South Georgian government warns that most adult fur seals prefer being alone. The seals are notoriously anti-social and suspicious of people and other seals. While they spend most of their time in the water, the seals can move quickly on land — so if you happen to come across one of these critters, especially during breeding season, exercise caution. Fur seal pups, on the other hand, are friendly.

If you enjoyed this article, you should check out these penguins that visit other animals during an aquarium ‘field trip’.

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