23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
A Weddell Seal smiles for the camera

This is a Weddell Seal, one of the most commonly encountered seals around Antarctica. They have rather cat-like faces, with fairly short noses and rounded heads, and Cheshire Cat smiles. This guy was lazing on the snow on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, where a small population occurs.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 01.2023
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: South Georgia
Camera: NIKON D610
Copyright: © Colin Munro