The proposed pebble mine threatens the only freshwater lakedwelling seals in the united states. The species was accused by some as being partly to. Harbor seals play a crucial role in the culture and diet of alaska natives. Harp seal pup found dead with plastic in its stomach in scotland. Originally in the genus phoca with a number of other species, it was reclassified into the monotypic genus pagophilus in 1844. Seals are threatened by global warming or global climate change and overfishing.
Harp seals pagophilus groenlandicus are carnivorous midsized pinnipeds that are plentiful throughout their home base, which includes the arctic ocean and the northerly stretches of the atlantic ocean. Harp seal facts and pictures national geographic kids. Although harp seals are not an endangered species, human beings regularly impact their lifestyles in numerous ways. Why are harp seals on the endangered animals list answers. Jan 06, 2012 harp seals are by no means endangered, and people hunt the animals to sell their fur, skin, and meat. There are increasing concerns, however, that harp seal pups have suffered mass mortality due to global warming.
Its important to note that last year hunters killed about 66,000 seals, a fraction of the northwest atlantics 7. The harp seal is an aquatic mammal belonging to the suborder pinnipedia finfooted animals and the family phocidae true seals lacking external ears that is found in the north atlantic and arctic oceans. Learn how to help end the cruel, ecologically irresponsible, and totally unnecessary seal. These seals are named after the black patch on their back, which looks like a. Based on its breeding grounds, the harp seal can be divided into three distinct populations found throughout the arctic ocean and the north atlantic.
Harp seals are found on or near ice floes from the kara sea of russia west to the gulf of st. There is conflicting information about whether seals are endangered or not. Demand for seal products has fallenso why do canadians keep. The harp seal also known a saddleback seal or greenland seal, pagophilus groenlandicus is. Baby harp seals being drowned, crushed amid melting ice. In the fall, most of these seals migrate south to the gulf of st. They spend a little time on land since they like living underwater. They also can feature areas of light brown and even some black. There were an estimated 5,500,000 harp seals in the world as of 2004.
Mar 25, 2009 harp seals arent endangered in fact, an estimated 6. If you see large colonies of harp seals on the ice, its. Inadvertent vessel strikes can injure or kill harp seals. Harp seals are vulnerable to vessel collisions throughout their range, but the risk is much higher in some. These sleek swimmers often hunt for fish and crustaceans at 300 feet 90 meters and may dive to nearly 1,000 feet 300 meters. Canada allowed 400,000 harp sealsjust days older than this oneto. Four seal species in danger of slipping away scientific. They have a robust body, a relatively small, broad, flat head, and a narrow snout that contains eight pairs of teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. Read more about seals and conservation issues here. These animals belong in the phocidae family and pagophilus genus. The harp seal is both the bestknown and among the most abundant of all seal species. While many of these animals have been known to prey on the regions seals, the harp seal has just four main enemies. The harp seal is a type of arctic ice seal that shares its habitat with foxes, wolves, dogs, wolverines and large birds. For more information about harp seals and other species of seals visit the following sites.
Their diet consists of nearly 70 different species of fish and. The adult male has an irregular horseshoeshaped black band across its back. Controversial seal hunt delayed 2nd year due to ice breakup. Harp seals arent endangered in fact, an estimated 6. Tell your friends, especially birdwatchers, dog walkers, beach walkers, and boaters. Harp seals are native to the north atlantic and arctic oceans, and spend most of their lives within the water. Lawrence and off the coasts of labrador and newfoundland. These patterns are more distinct on the bodies of adult males. Their endangerment is the fault of many humans that are hunting and killing them. This species is highly migratory, with individuals following arctic sea ice as it expands and contracts throughout the year. Harbor, ringed, ribbon, spotted and bearded seals, as well as northern fur seals and steller sea lions live in the arctic region. These sleek swimmers cruise the chilly waters and feed on fish and crustaceans. Loss of sea ice means fewer harp seal pups are born and survive.
Harp seals are the victims of the largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world. Demand for seal products has fallenso why do canadians. The harbor seal s ability to damage or remove salmon from gillnets has caused conflicts between seals and commercial fishers in alaska. They have not been assessed by the committee on the status of endangered wildlife in canada. Harp seals are noisy when they live in a group because of their social nature. You will notice when you observe a group of harp seals that they have very different patterns of color from each other. There are 28 subspecies of seals listed by the iucn red list. In latin, its scientific name translates to icelover from greenland, and. During mating season, females form large colonies on floating ice and give birth to young. The reality of it is that some species are while others like the gray seal continue to increase in numbers. This harp joins across the shoulders and curves toward the abdomen, then goes back up toward the hind flippers, where it disappears. The icebreeding harp seal, found in waters of the arctic and far north atlantic ocean, obtains its name from. I spend most of the year in the chilly waters of the arctic and north atlantici actually dont spend much time on land at all except to give birth. Both species are now listed as threatened in the u.
Seals are found along most coasts and cold waters, but a majority of them live in the arctic and antarctic waters. Harp seals are separated into 3 populations, each of which uses a specific pupping site. It is also the most abundant seal species in the northern hemisphere. They spend most of their time swimming the icy waters of the north atlantic and arctic oceans, feeding on fish and crustaceans, and they migrate to their breeding. Harp seals, pagophilus groenlandicus erxleben, 1777, aka phoca groenlandica, get their common name from the harp shaped pattern on the dorsal upper side and flanks of adult harp seals. Apr 05, 2017 its important to note that last year hunters killed about 66,000 seals, a fraction of the northwest atlantics 7. Harp seals spend most of their time diving and swimming in the icy waters of the north atlantic and arctic oceans. Noaa fisheries lists ice seals as threatened, endangered. Right now harp seals along with every other seal are endangered. Habitat harp seals tend to spend relatively little time on land. Learn about seals, including harp seals, hooded seals, harbor seals, grey seals, bearded seals, and ringed seals here. You might recognize me as one of the arctics most iconic and adorable.
The harp seal also known a saddleback seal or greenland seal, pagophilus groenlandicus is a species of earless seal, or true seal, native to the northernmost. They are not endangered, in fact they are listed as a. This annual massacre takes the lives of hundreds of thousands of harp seal pups each year. Some fishing interests blame harp seals for diminishing fish stocks, particularly in the northwest atlantic. The harp seal also known a saddleback seal or greenland seal, pagophilus groenlandicus is a species of earless seal, or true seal, native to the northernmost atlantic ocean and arctic ocean. Learn how to help end the cruel, ecologically irresponsible, and totally unnecessary seal hunt on. World wildlife fund supports the seal hunt harp seals. The size of the harp seal hunt in canada increased significantly in the mid1990s, aided by.
Although they live in cold water, harp seal pups are born without any protective fat. Harp seal pup found dead with plastic in its stomach in. Harbor seal species profile, alaska department of fish and game. Harp seals are by no means endangered, and people hunt the animals to sell their fur, skin, and meat. Harp seals marinebio video library nat geo harp seal wallpaper. Climate change makes life harder for baby harp seals scientific.
Harp seals are prey for killer whales, sharks and polar bears. Wwf supports the harp seal hunt in canada, the largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world. They are able to remain submerged for up to 15 minutes. Lawrence or to the waters off southern labrador and northern newfoundland. While harp seals might be rare, seeing seals on atlantic beaches is quite common. These seals are named after the black patch on their back, which looks like a harp. Harp seals are part of the family phocidae, known as the true or earless seals because they lack external ear flaps. The harp seal starts out as an adorable little white ball of fur. Harp seals, pagophilus groenlandicus erxleben, 1777, aka phoca groenlandica, get their common name from the harpshaped pattern on the dorsal upper side and flanks of adult harp seals.
Harp seals gather in large groups of up to several thousand to molt and breed. Therefore conservation efforts need to be in place to help those that are vulnerable due to low numbers. They are endangered because for years hunters and poachers have been slaughtering them for their soft white coats. The harp seal is one that has lots of white fur on it. The harp seal is a sea mammal of the finfooted animal group and the phocidae family true seals with no external ears. Harp seal harp seals spend relatively little time on land and prefer to swim in the north atlantic and arctic oceans. Harp seals live throughout the cold waters of the north atlantic and arctic oceans. Harp seals spend the summer in the canadian arctic and greenland. When harp seals are in the wild, they have the average lifespan of 30 years. Worldwide, the total population of harp seals is estimated at nearly 7. They can be found in vast numbers along the coastline from canada, greenland to norway and russia. Established in 1964, the iucn red list of threatened species has evolved to become the worlds most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. The list of endangered species is not set in stone. They are considered to be semi aquatic marine mammals because of the extent to which they spend their time in the water.