Observations of Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) injuries: nature, size, location, time taken to heal, infection mircoorganisms and cause of infections

Seals were examined closely for injuries, the nature, size and location of each wound being recorded in field notes and diagrammatically on a separate sheet for each seal. Seals were observed in the pupping colonies around the Dellbridge Islands, Turk's Head, Glacier Tongue and Turtle Rock during the early part of the season and in the Scott Base/Cape Armitage area after the sea ice had broken out. One quarter to one third of the seals were tagged individuals and thus known and the collection of data on how often each tagged seal was injured and the time taken for wounds to heal was determined. Swabs were taken from infected wounds and the microorganism present in the infections cultured in order to identify them. In an attempt to trace the source of the infection, swabs were also taken from the mouth, skin, on several positions on the body, blood, urine and faeces.