Sailing Antarctica: A Polar Wildlife Expedition

Watch this Antarctica video and get a glimpse of the one-of-a-kind experience of sailing Antarctica. Whales, seals and penguins greet you throughout the journey as you sail through sea ice and past enormous glaciers.

Whale researcher Ari Friedlaender, Ph.D., has taken more than 40 trips to Antarctica to study whale behavior—including traveling with Nat Hab guests on the Hanse Explorer! Brooke Mitchell talks with Dr. Friedlaender about his research on whale biology and behavior and how these cetaceans adapt to changes in their environments. Learn what whale pregnancy rates can tell us about climate change, find out how scientists get close enough to these colossal creatures to study them, and discover the effects of ecotourism on whale conservation.

Antarctica is home to some of the most resilient animals on Earth. Join Expedition Leader Lianne Thompson as she plunges into the watery world of Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals—two species that have made remarkable recoveries after historic population declines. Learn about their unique adaptations, from the deep-diving capabilities of elephant seals to the thick, insulating fur of...well...fur seals. Lianne describes their hunting strategies, social structures and dramatic mating rituals and shares photography tips to help you capture the essence of these playful marine mammals.

Humpback whales possess remarkable sensory adaptations that allow them to navigate, communicate and thrive in diverse marine environments. Expedition Leader Lianne Thompson dives into the roles the five senses of touch, hearing, sight, taste and smell play in humpback whale behaviors such as feeding, migration and social interactions. She also addresses conservation challenges like noise pollution and climate change and highlights the importance of protecting humpback whales and their habitats.