Working with Seals to Explore the Deep

Wes Larson, a wildlife biologist, joins a research team at UC Santa Cruz to tag elephant seals. The team selects a suitable seal based on specific criteria and tags it to collect oceanographic data. The process involves challenges due to the seals' size and behavior. The research aims to understand the ocean better and highlights the conservation success of elephant seals, which were once nearly extinct.

What precautions do researchers take while working with elephant seals?

Explain the significance of the recovery of elephant seals in the last century.

What insights does Rachel and her team hope to gain from studying elephant seals?