Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), hauled out for their annual catastrophic molt (moult) on the beach at Snow Island, Antarctica, Polar Regions

mirounga leonina beach snow island antarctica catastrophic molt haul out polar regions wildlife marine mammals seals natural behavior animal adaptation coastal habitat antarctic environment molting process wildlife observation nature biology ecosystem marine life seal population conservation biodiversity cold climate animal behavior natural history ocean habitat loss breeding ground seasonal changes coastal ecosystem wildlife protection feeding survival social structure animal health physiological changes historical distribution ecological role climate change animal migration antarctic peninsula wildlife research species identification animal welfare endangered species marine conservation oceanography seal colony population dynamics