Seals are common in all the northern seas.This group of predatory mammals pinnipeds.Two subspecies (European and island) are listed as endangered.Coastal waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the North and Baltic Seas are also inhabited by seals.
Description animals
weight and length of the animal can vary greatly - from ninety-five kilos of up to three tons and a half to six meters.The smallest species - ringed seal, the largest - elephant.Usually the animal color brown, gray or reddish.Under natural conditions, females live to thirty-five years, and males - up to twenty.The body of the animal has a spindle shape, small head, tapering front.Short and sedentary neck, the ears are missing.Well defined, but short tail.The front flippers are relatively short (less than twenty five percent of the total body length).They are significantly shorter than the back.
Reproduction and feeding
In the mating season the seals are kept in pairs.Calving usually takes place on the ice.One puppy is born.On seeing the light he appears fully formed physically.More often than females are trying to hide their young in snow dens.Feeding milk stops when the baby is still not able to feed themselves, so from two to twelve weeks of starving animals, surviving only due to the accumulation of fat.
baby seals: what is the name?
This is perhaps the most charming representatives of the animal world - a big head and big, wide eyes.In addition, these kids have a snow-white fur that covers the entire body.Since ancient times was called Pomors adult male seal harp seal, female - utelgoy and their cubs named differently, depending on age - Belka, Zelentsy Circo, Khokhlushka.All of these names are correct and relevant in our day.In the scientific literature a little more often called a seal pup.And this is called the baby seal pup.
baby seals: birth
In the summer months the seals live in the Far North.In late autumn, they begin to move south.For reproduction they choose big and strong ice floes, which are "detnye haul" which can stretch for tens of kilometers.Number of animals in these "colonies" has tens of thousands of individuals.Pregnancy seal lasts eleven and a half months.I must say that the ice - a reliable antiseptic: very low temperatures do not allow germs to grow.Childbirth occurs from January to April.The bulk of the young appears to twentieth of February to 5 March.
seals Zieleniec
Newborn baby seal its name (or rather, one of them) was due to the color of his coat.The body of a puppy covered with thick, long hair white with a greenish tinge.From this came the name "Zieleniec."At birth it weighs 8.10 kilograms and a length of up to 92 centimeters.
seal-pup
greenish tint persists for long.By the way, it is formed under the influence of amniotic fluid in the womb.Five days later he disappears completely, seals and pups, whose photos you can see in this article, is transformed into an absolutely adorable white.At this time he was very dependent on his mother.The female seal feeds her baby every four to five hours.It is very fat milk (fat up to fifty per cent).Thanks to this day the baby is gaining up to three kilograms.During this period, very helpless pups.What do you call it at the time?Of course, Belek.
Features seal pup
huge watery eyes Belka constantly, so it appears that the animal cries.But it is a natural process of moisture eye.Belek, baby seal, constantly shaking.This is due to heat in the regulation of its body.It has not yet formed a fatty layer, as in the adult animal.Wool Belka consists of transparent hollow hairs that are well passed the sunlight on black skin, thereby warming it.There is a misconception
For a long time researchers have thought of these animals, the female, which is necessary from time to time be away in search of food for themselves, is Belka voice.This is not true.Baby seals has a unique smell, thanks to which his mother finds.
believed that pups (whose name pup), which once caressed the man will remain "orphans".The female is no longer fit for him.This is not true.If you happen to be at the North Pole, you can iron these fascinating animals as you like, but this should be done with gloves, as they react very negatively too "hot" for their human hand.
And another tip.Belka stroking and playing with him, do not obstruct him from his mother - losing sight of the baby, it can be attacked.
seals hohlusha
In the third week of life pup begins to fade.Under his luxurious white fur becomes noticeable silvery skin.One week a baby seal called hohlushey.
Cerca - pups
When the seal pup is executed one month, the fur of the animal changes again.He turns to normal for these mammals hard and short hair coat.The fur is gray in color, on the back - darker.There are dark, almost black spots.During this period the young seal is called Cerca.
Enemy seals
most terrible and ruthless enemy of the seals is the polar bear.At the end of the harsh winter and hungry pups for him - a great production.The female usually does not protect Belka - that it can oppose the hungry and furious predator in its native element?If the ceiling above the snow burrow more than a meter, it is difficult to find the bear refuge, but if the hole is found, the pup is doomed.
seal hunt
Up to two thousand of the ninth year, our country was the only one in the world where permitted to hunt seal pups.Indeed, Russia is the main importer of fur seals.This is usually a fur adults - Serkov.
Protecting animals
very first organization who defended the pups, was the International Fund for IFAW.It is to protect these fascinating animals with valuable fur was created by the organization.His work Fund distributes in Canada and Russia.For his work, and he joined many famous people of the world.Brigitte Bardot in 1977 organized a demonstration outside the Norwegian embassy.Then the president of France has banned the import of fur Belka.Therefore, we considered that it was France - the first country to introduce special prohibit measures aimed at protecting these animals.Later, the defense joined Paul McCartney.He flew to Canada on-site slaughter pups, and held several charity events.
In Russia, this work began in 2008 through the efforts of the public.Many famous people of our country have addressed to the President of the country.Elena Kamburova, Andrei Makarevich, Lyme Vajkule, Konstantin Raikin, Mikhail Shirvindt and other actors, as well as scholars, artists, journalists supported the protest against the destruction of seal pups.
In February 2009, in our country have a complete (temporary) ban on the catching of baby seals in all age groups.Vladimir Putin (Prime Minister at the time) animal welfare advocates applauded worldwide.It was he who made the ban.
