A special group of marine scientists has been recruited to gather vital data about the ocean — dozens of elephant seals
CBSN
The coldest oceans are home to some of the most valuable information about the future of the planet, but many parts of those oceans have been largely inaccessible for thorough study. But now, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recruited a special group of marine scientists to gather the data — dozens of elephant seals.
The seals live on Kerguelen Island, a small French territory in the southern Indian Ocean that's just a stone's throw from Antarctica. The territory is so remote and its landscape is so harsh that it has been dubbed the "Desolation Islands," according to NASA, but elephant seals are among the species that thrive.
They're also one of the few species that can reach the underwater nooks and crannies that pack "vital ocean information," according to UNESCO. That's why the organization recruited their help to gather essential data for predicting climate change and the future of the oceans.