The icy waters of Antarctica and the Subantarctic islands are home to some of the most remarkable seals on Earth. Agile and playful, fur seals are superb swimmers, often seen porpoising through the surf or gathered in dense colonies on rocky shores. Elephant seals, the largest of all seals, are masters of the deep, diving for over an hour to hunt squid and fish, while males battle fiercely for dominance during the breeding season. Sleek and powerful leopard seals are the region’s apex predators, known for their dramatic hunts of penguins and other seals. Despite their differences, all three species are vital to the Southern Ocean ecosystem — their presence reflects the health of these remote and fragile environments. As climate change and human activity alter their world, conserving their habitats ensures that these extraordinary marine mammals continue to thrive in one of the planet’s last true wildernesses.