Researchers studying giant squid in their natural habitat have faced many challenges, but a team of scientists led by Matthew Mulrennan has found a unique solution. Instead of renting an expensive research ship, the team set up a research station on an Antarctic cruise ship to study these elusive creatures.
The goal of the team was to gather basic information about giant squid, including their hunting habits and different life stages. The team managed to capture footage of various species, including a baby giant squid-like animal in Paradise Harbor, Antarctica. However, researchers still face challenges studying giant squid due to their deep-sea habitats and difficulty in preserving specimens for long-term study.
Mulrennan founded the nonprofit organization Kolossal with the aim of filming giant squid in their natural habitats. He assembled a team of scientists with the goal of recording giant squid during trips to Antarctica in 2022 and 2023. This effort was estimated to cost around $500,000, significantly more affordable than renting a research vessel, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars per day and up to $8 million for similar expeditions.
During their trips on the Ocean Endeavor cruise ship, tourists observed a team of researchers taking cameras into the Southern Ocean to record marine life. They even created a complete research station on the ship to support their efforts. The team recorded more than 80 species of marine life during their 58 days at sea, including a creature resembling an adult glass squid or possibly a baby giant squid. Although the exact classification remains uncertain, the team sees this as progress towards their goal of discovering giant squid by 2025.