Counting the seals of Sable Island: Join our citizen science project

Sable Island National Park Reserve

Parks Canada is inviting the public to participate in the second edition of the Sable Island Grey Seal Count project with the digital citizen science platform Zooniverse.

An aerial photo of seals with a grid overlay.
One of the 1,698 images ready to be analyzed by the public

Can you spot the seals?

For a single image, one person might manage it with just a click of a mouse. But what if there were 1,698 pictures of seals? That’s where you come in! We’re reaching out to the public to help count the seals.

How you can help

Help us count grey seals in Sable Island National Park Reserve using aerial photos and modern technology! Assist in cutting-edge research and gain a deeper connection to one of Canada’s most iconic islands.

Join the Sable Island Grey Seal Count project today on Zooniverse and make a difference.

Why this project matters

The Grey Seal Count project uses aerial imagery to track seal populations during the non-breeding summer season.

Understanding how many seals haul out on Sable Island helps the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada study the foraging patterns and ecological role of grey seals in the northwest Atlantic.

The first edition of this project in 2021 included 917 photos. Now the project has grown larger, giving more people the chance to contribute to real science while exploring the island’s wildlife.


What is Zooniverse?

Zooniverse is the world’s largest platform for people-powered research, where volunteers from across the globe assist professional researchers.

More information

For more information on this fun project, visit the Zooniverse Sable Island Grey Seal Count project.

Date modified :