Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 30() 1987
Distribution and number of fur seals, Arctocephalus gazella (Peters, 1875) of King George Island (South Shetlands)
Abstract:
In the region of the mouth of Admiralty Bay the greatest number of fur seals was observed in February and March, reaching 33.09 animals/km of sea line. In relation to the entire sea coast of the bay (91 km) the number of fur seals varied in 1980-1981 between 4.72 and 9.00 animals/km. In April, with the arrival of great ice fields, this number suddenly decreased. In June and the first half of July some migrating seals appreared, at that time the winter peak in their number being observed, reaching 1.11 seals/km of sea coast (i. e. a density of 0.77 for 1 km2 of ice field of the bay). Some of these winter migrants remained till October, grouped near ice cliffs and rock islands where the ice was crushed. The hypothesis is presented that these seals migrate from the volcanic island Deception. The census of seals taken on King George Island during the peak in their number in 1981 showed the presence of 4400 adult specimens. The following rookeries were found: Stigant Pt., Tartar Pt., Penguin Island, Lion’s Rump, and Low Head.
