Prof. Dr. Marthán Bester
Projects & Publications
Marine mammal ecologists Prof. Dr. Marthán Bester and the late Dr. Joachim Plötz, members of the “Seals” subgroup of the "Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR)", established a significant collaboration in the late 1980s. Their relationship developed through joint attendance at conferences and field trips, culminating in extensive research on elephant seals in the Southern Ocean across multiple expeditions. This collaborative effort resulted in 37 published works, including groundbreaking studies on comparative seal populations and the integration of seal surveys into a multinational SCAR framework. The narrative surrounding the challenges faced by researchers during these expeditions remains largely untold, prompting a proposal to share these 'almost forgotten' stories.
Not to be confused with past seal hunters, the contemporary 'sealers' are scientists studying seal populations in the Subantarctic and Antarctic, particularly those involved in MRI/AWI expeditions. Each account will showcase the 'sealers,' their expeditions, and include photographic illustrations. These autobiographical sketches will document both dangerous and humorous encounters with seals, colleagues, and wildlife, contributing to the Antarctic Legacy of South Africa (ALSA) and the AWI ‘Archiv für deutsche Polarforschung (AdP)’ with plans for publication by Sun Media in Stellenbosch, South Africa.