Southwest Atlantic Elephant Seal Population Assessment (SAESPA)
Key Facts
FUNDING SCHEME Darwin Plus
VALUE £432,459
WHERE South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory
Summary
Southern elephant seal population data in the southwest Atlantic is limited, and at South Georgia is 30-years out-of-date. Consequently, our understanding of how these marine predators are faring, particularly given the impact of climate change, is lacking. Using satellite imagery, along with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys, we plan to census breeding populations on South Georgia, the South Orkney and the South Shetland Islands. This will establish modern baselines and investigate possible southward shifts in populations since the 1990s.
