Seal Facts - Logiee22 (best free e book reader txt) 📗

SEALS


Seals are found all over the world, and there are 33 known species of them. They fall into a category of animals known as the pinnipeds. This is due to the fact that they have winged feet. Depending on the species of seal, there is quite a difference from the sizes. The largest ones can be about 16 feet long with the smallest of them being about four feet long. The terminology for seals includes males being called bulls, females being called cows, and the offspring being called pups.

Many researchers believe that there are many species that have died off in the past. However, there is still a great deal of research that has to be done in that field. One of the most common types of seals is the gray seal. There are more of them than any other, and their numbers continue to increase annually. However, there are many other species of seals that are in jeopardy of extinction.

There are many different reasons for such a decline in the number of seals found in the world. One that was quite significant occurred in 1988. A type of distemper virus quickly spread among them and that resulted in the death of 1/3 of all common seals residing within the North Sea. You will find that seals live from the coldest polar regions to the very warm climates around Hawaii.


Seals are highly intelligent animals and they have been used in a variety of conservation programs such as those at Sea World. However, it is very important to understand they are still wild animals. They have been known to bite and to attack humans that get too close to them. This is due to their natural instinct to protect themselves, their young, and their surroundings.

They look like very gentle creatures though with their brownish bodies and their small heads. They are mammals due to the fact that they offer milk to their young pups until they are old enough to feed on their own. They are warm blooded too which is why they depend on their layers of fat to keep them warm when necessary.


Some people take the stand that seals are lazy creatures. This is because they can often be seen enjoying the sun as they perch themselves on rocks. However, they are very busy when they are in the water which is most of the time. When they are on land for an increased period of time that means they are breeding, about to give bird, or molting. If you aren’t familiar with it, molting is the process of shedding their skin and this takes place for them once a year.

It can take up to six weeks for the molting period to be completed. They are often very noisy, irritable, and agitated during this period of time. Researchers once though this was due to it being painful for them but that isn’t the case. Instead it is now believed that it is because of the increased levels of hormones. The seals also don’t feed during this period of time but have enough blubber to survive on comfortably.

They are very curious too which is why they will follow boats to see what is going on aboard them. This is a great way for those people on these ships to get to see the seals up close in their natural environment.

There is plenty to learn about seals as a whole, but you can also find out a great deal concerning individual species. Take a look online, in books, and at animal conservation locations to find out all you can. You won’t be disappointed by the great information you come across regarding seals.


LEPORD SEAL FACTS


The Leopard Seal is the second largest of all seals out there. They are very strong animals and they tend to take over the areas where they reside. They are dark gray in color and can weigh up to 1,300 pounds. They can also be about 11 feet long. The females are smaller than the males but still quite large compared to other types of seals.

Distribution

You will find this type of seal living in the very cold regions of the Antarctic. Some of them though prefer the warmer climates. Leopard seals have been identified in Australia and New Zealand where it is much warmer than the Antarctic.

Behavior

The Leopard Seal is considered to be the most aggressive of all the species out there. They only live in small groups which is also quite different from other species of leopards. In fact, it isn’t uncommon to see them alone or only with one or two companions.

Diet /Feeding

The diet of the Leopard seal is similar to others in many ways. They love krill, fish, and other items found in the waters. However, they are also the only species of seal that will also consume other species. They also love to eat penguins. They are fast moving on land so they have no trouble catching their desired prey either on land or in the water.

They kill penguins and small seals by grabbing them with their feet. Then they will thrash them back and forth against the ground until they are dead. In the water they are able to swallow fish or to tear off large portions of big prey they find in there.

Reproduction

Due to the aggressive nature of the Leopard Seals, there is still plenty we don’t know about their reproduction. We don’t know how the mates select each other. It is believed there are series of grunts and calls though that are a way to appeal to the females by the males though.

When it is time to reproduce, the Leopard Seals will come together in larger groups. The females will carry a pup for nine months and then deliver it in a hole they have dug in the ice. It can take several months during the pregnancy for her to complete this digging process in preparation for the offspring.

The females do take very good care of their young pups until they are able to care for themselves. Other animals don’t bother the offspring but at times the males can show aggression towards them. Most of the time though they have disappeared to do their own thing after the mating has taken place.

Conservation

They only natural predators that the Leopard Seals have are some species of whales. Therefore they do as they please both on land and in the water. There aren’t very high numbers left of Leopard Seals which is why conservation efforts for them exist. There are approximately 250,000 of them.

In the wild it is reasonable for one to live approximately 26 years.

Human interaction

Humans that observe Leopard Seals known not to get too close to them due to their aggressive nature. Many of them have been hunted though for sport as well to get rid of them due to their behaviors. There have been some reports of attacks from Leopard Seals on humans while they are in the water. It is believed this is due to them feeling threatened rather than finding something that they are interested in eating. It is best not to be in the open waters where Leopard Seals are known to live.


HARP SEAL FACTS


The Harp Seal is one that has lots of white fur on it. They also can feature areas of light brown and even some black. You will notice when you observe a group of Harp Seals that they have very different patterns of color from each other. The young pups are even sometimes mistaken for baby polar bears when they are alone. Full grown, they can be about 5 ½ feet long and weigh up to 400 pounds.

Distribution

You will find the Harp Seals along the coasts of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. It due to the fact that they live in the coldest regions that they have plenty of thick fur as well as layers of blubber underneath it for insulation.

Diet /Feeding

This particular type of seal moves around often in search of food. Their patterns of movement have been recorded for decades. For the most part they are consistent unless there are environmental factors that require them to make some type of adaptations at that time. When food is in short supply in one area, the larger groups of Harp Seals may break up into several smaller ones. This way there is more of a chance for them to survive.

The diet for these types of seals consist of small fish and invertebrates. They aren’t very picky though and they will consume what ever they have to from the water in order to survive.

Reproduction

A Harp Seal is able to reproduce when it is between 5 and 7 years of age. Males end up courting the females on the ice but then move into the water for the actual act of reproduction to take place. As a result there is much that researchers don’t know about this part of it. What they do know is that it is possible for the embryo to be there but not attached to the uterus. It will attach to the uterus several months down the road.

The dominate males dictate who will end up mating with the available females. It is common for one male to mate with several females. The pups are born around February each year and a quick bond is made through smell for a pup and a mother. The milk she feeds on demand to her pup is 48% fat so the pup will grow very fast.

The nursing only takes place for 12 to 14 days though and then the pup is left to take care of itself. The mother leaves to fulfill her own need for food as she will have gone without during this span of time. It is very sad to watch these pups cry out as they are left alone. They become quiet in time though to conserve the food in their body. Instinctively they will remain on the shore living off their fat until they are about 25 days old.

Even then, they aren’t very good at swimming so they are very vulnerable. Many of them become prey to other animals including polar bears. A large percentage of them end up drowning in the water as they don’t have any one to show them how to swim and they may not be strong enough.

Conservation

In the past the number of Harp Seals have dropped very low due to severe hunting. Mainly this was taking place in Canada. However, with conservation efforts in place around the world they have been able to increase their numbers over the past two decades. There are still too many of them being killed regularly around Canada though where it remains legal to do so.

A healthy Harp Seal can easily live in the wild for up to 30 years. However, they are often injured due to fishing nets that