Rare Seal Photographed Underwater for the First Time

Photo: Justin Hofman

Photographer Justin Hofman recently captured an incredible moment. The Ross seal - Antarctica’s most elusive and smallest pinniped - was photographer underwater for the very first time. It is seldom seen, even by experienced Antarctic explorers such as Hofman, and has been photographed laying on pack ice only a handful of times.

In addition to being smaller than other seals in the area, Ross seals can be identified by their large eyes and short muzzles, giving them a unique (and adorable) appearance.

Ross seal’s live deep under pack ice, and very little is known about their habits and lifestyle, making it very difficult for the species to be studied.

Given how little is know about the species, Hofman’s photos have provided a priceless look into the Ross seal’s life. We still have so much to learn about this species, with whole aspects of their lives, such as mating and hunting still yet to be documented.

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Clouded Leopard

(neofelis nebulosa)

In the heart of Southeast Asia, alongside tigers and leopards, lives the world’s smallest big cat, or maybe, the world’s biggest small cat.

This is the clouded leopard, and they are as unique as they are beautiful. They boast the longest fangs in proportion to body size of any cat, can hang upside down from trees, and despite not weighing 25-55 lbs, can take down prey as large as deer.

Although they inhabit several countries in Asia, such as Nepal, India, and China, they are incredibly elusive and are rarely seen. Their blotched coats blending in perfectly amongst the tree trunks and vines.

Their beautiful coats however, are also one of the primary reason for their decline in population. Poaching, alongside habitat loss, has decimated clouded leopard numbers and extirpated them entirely from Taiwan. It’s estimated that less than 10,000 Clouded Leopards remain in the wild.Rare Seal Photographed Underwater for the First Time

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Meet the Organization Saving Jekyll Island's Sea Turtles

For every day nature lovers, getting involved in front-line conservation can seem incredibly difficult. But just off the coast of Georgia, there is a place where you (yes you!) can help protect sea turtle nests and hatchlings.

The beautiful white-sand beaches of Jekyll Island are a critical nesting site for Loggerhead Turtles, and every spring, staff and volunteers monitor nest sites and patrol the beaches of Jekyll Island, Georgia, standing guard as hundreds of determined sea turtle mothers lay their clutches of eggs.

But along Jekyll Island's coastline, they remain safe from poachers and the increasing light-pollution that has plagued so many other nesting sites. Georgia Sea Turtle Center also has an in-house rehabilitation center, designed to rescue and eventually release injured sea turtles back into the Atlantic.

Learn more about Georgia Sea Turtle Center here

And if you're in the area for nesting season, join them for a turtle walk!