Seal tracking gives new ocean insight

Elephant seals are acting as mini-submarines for scientists who are tracking the creatures by satellite to learn about the species and their environment.

Elephant seals fitted with satellite tracking devices have given scientists a new look at parts of the Southern Ocean including the environmental impact of increasing sea ice.

A six-year study conducted by researchers from Hobart's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies followed 287 seals on their annual migration which included dives to depths of almost 2.4km lasting up to 94 minutes.

"It's almost as if we had 287 mini-submarines exploring the Southern Ocean, providing new insights into remote and previously inaccessible locations while revealing where seals forage and how they respond in different environmental conditions," Professor Mark Hindell said, adding that the elephant seal population has increased slightly since 2005.