A seal pup near Vernadsky has been given a special name

The first Weddell seal pup of the season was born near the Ukrainian Antarctic station “Akademik Vernadsky.” It turned out to be a girl, and after receiving nearly a thousand suggestions from Ukrainians, the polar researchers named her Sally. The name comes from a Latin word meaning “savior.”

 

Ukrainian polar researchers at the “Academician Vernadsky” station held a naming contest for the first Weddell seal pup born near the station. Social media users actively voted for the pup and submitted their own suggestions. From among nearly a thousand suggestions, the polar explorers settled on the name Sally. The seal pup’s full name is Salvator. The name is of Latin origin and means “rescuer.” It was suggested on September 17—Rescuer’s Day—by Ukrainian Oleksandra Kasai. “Since today we are honoring all rescuers who are helping to save the lives of Ukrainians during this difficult time for our country, I propose naming the seal Salvator, or Sal or Sally for short. I think this name will suit the little one,” she wrote.

For her suggestion, Oleksandra will receive a chevron from the 31st Antarctic Expedition. Ukrainians suggested a wide variety of names for the seal pup. Among them were both common options and funny ones—for example, Kuyovdyk and Droni. But that wasn’t the end of the seal news near the “Vernadsky” station. Polar researchers reported that another Weddell seal pup was born near the station. This time it’s a boy, so the group of little seals near the Ukrainian station continues to grow.

The polar researchers spotted the first seal pup of the season thanks to a skua. The birds were circling noisily between the neighboring islands, and this behavior caught the scientists’ attention. Biologist Kirilo Sulima explained that guillemots may behave this way when they find a seal placenta. The birds feed on it, so their activity sometimes helps the polar researchers spot the location where a pup was recently born.

This time, the scientists managed to get there before the birds. They found the placenta and took samples for further research.

Now, little Sally is growing up near the “Academic Vernadsky” station, and another newborn Weddell seal has appeared beside her. The polar researchers continue to observe the animals and study their lives in the area around the station.