general characteristics

The average body length of an adult seal is 165 cm (from the end of the nose to the end of the hind flippers). Weight from 50 to 130 kg, females are larger than males. Linear growth ends by the age of 17-19, and weight growth continues for a number of years and is possible until the end of life. Seals live up to 55 years.

In a calm environment, the speed of movement under water does not exceed 7-8 km / h. She swims with greater speed when moving away from danger. On a hard surface, the seal moves rather slowly, flipping with flippers and tail. In case of danger, he goes to the races.

According to fishermen, seals have been caught in nets at depths of up to 200 m, but, as a rule, they dive to much shallower depths. The Baikal Limnological Museum of the Institute of Scientific Centers of the SB RAS contains information that seals live at a depth of up to 300 meters. She finds food in a well-lit area (25-30 m) and, apparently, she does not need to dive deep. The seal is capable of diving up to 200 m and can withstand a pressure of 21 atm. In nature, she is under water for up to 70 minutes - this is enough for her to get food or escape from danger.

area

For a year, an adult seal eats up to 1 ton of fish. The main food of the seal is golomyanka-goby fish. The Baikal omul is caught in the food of the seal by chance and in a very unfortunate way. in large numbers, no more than 1-2% of the daily diet.

reproduction

By the age of 3-4, seals become sexually mature, bringing offspring at the age of 4-7 years. Males reach sexual maturity a year or two later. Pregnancy lasts 11 months, of which the first 3-5 lasts embryonic diapause.

During her life, the female can probably bring up to two dozen or more cubs, given that she is capable of bringing offspring up to the age of 40. Females usually mate annually. However, annually up to 10-20% of females remain barren for various reasons. This period stretches for more than a month - from the end of February to the beginning of April.

juveniles

Seal cubs are born in a specially prepared snow den, usually one, rarely two, in February-March. The weight of the newborn is up to 4 kg. The skin of the cub is white. Hence its name - squirrels. The seal spends about 4-6 weeks exclusively inside the den, feeding on mother's milk. In the first period, while the cub is fed with mother's milk, it does not dive into the water. By the time the lair collapses, he manages to shed almost completely. The mother takes care of the baby, leaving only for the time of hunting. In the presence of the mother, the temperature inside the lair reaches +5 °C, while outside there are frosts of -15 ... -20 °C.

The lactation period ends in 2-2.5 months. Sometimes lactation lasts 3-3.5 months - there is a dependence on the state of the ice cover. With the transition to self-feeding by fish, seals molt, the fur gradually changes color to silver-gray in 2-3-month-olds, and then to brown-brown in older and adult individuals.

Wintering

Nerpa hibernates on ice in lairs under snow on hummocky areas of Lake Baikal, often in pressing- heaps of ice floes forming sheds. The animal, as ice forms on the surface of the lake, creates the main air 1-2 m in diameter, maintaining it in this state, removing ice.

Ecology

The appearance of seals in Baikal

Until now, among scientists there is no single point of view on how this animal got into Baikal. Most researchers adhere to the point of view of I. D. Chersky that the seal entered Baikal from the Arctic Ocean through the Yenisei-Angara river system in the Ice Age, simultaneously with the Baikal omul. Other scientists do not rule out the possibility of its penetration along the Lena, which is believed to have had a runoff from Baikal.

The first description of the seal

It is mentioned in the reports of the first explorers who came here in the first half of the 17th century. A scientific description was first made during the work of the 2nd Kamchatka, or Great Northern, expedition led by V. Bering. As part of this expedition, a detachment worked on Baikal under the leadership of I. G. Gmelin, who comprehensively studied the nature of the lake and its environs and described the seal.

According to legend local residents, seals met in the Baunt lakes one or two centuries ago. Suggest [ Who?] that the seal got there along the Lena and Vitim. Some naturalists believe [ Who?] that the seal came to the Baunt lakes from Baikal and that these lakes were allegedly connected with it. However, reliable data confirming this or that version has not yet been received.

seal population

St. John's hunting goes mainly on cubs after the first molt.

Along with legal hunting, poaching still occurs. especially cruel [ ] seal cubs under the age of several months are hunted, despite the fact that this is prohibited by law. Contrary to persistent assertions, the Baikal seal has not yet been included in the main (legal) section of the Red Book, and is only listed in the “list ... of animals in need of special attention to their condition in natural environment»

Fishing has been banned since 1980. It is included in the IUCN Red List as a species close to extinction.

Scientists claim that the seal lived on the territory of Lake Baikal already in the Tertiary period cenozoic era, that is, about 1.6 million years ago, and its ancestors lived in the northern seas of the Arctic Ocean shortly before that. Another version says that the seal got to Baikal along the Lena River, which is believed to have had a runoff from Baikal.

The ancestors of the modern seal found suitable conditions in Baikal for themselves and quickly adapted to the features of the ancient reservoir, and then stayed there to live. The first mention of the Baikal seal is in the reports of pioneers who came to Baikal in the 17th century. The scientific description of the seal was first made during the Great Northern Expedition, which was organized by the "Russian Columbus", the traveler Vitus Bering.

Fact 2: The seal saves the omul

The seal closes the Baikal food chain, and its only enemy, oddly enough, is man. Despite their clumsy appearance, the seal can reach speeds of up to 25 km per hour in water and has still retained the ability to swim into rivers and travel hundreds of kilometers.

The Baikal seal is not only an outstanding swimmer, but also a well-equipped underwater hunter. Big eyes provide her with a catch even in low light conditions. Diving to a depth of up to 300 meters, the seal can withstand a pressure of 31 atm. The seal feeds mainly on golomyanka-goby fish, and in such quantities that it can eat more than a ton in a year.

Thanks to his hunting nimble animal has a huge impact not only on the ichthyofauna of the lake, but also on its entire ecosystem. For example, eating at least 50 thousand tons of small and large golomyankas per year, the seal thereby saves thousands of tons of important inhabitants of Baikal from extinction - macrohectopus, epishura and other crustaceans that would have been eaten by golomyankas. In turn, these crustaceans are the main food not only for golomyankas, but also for everyone's favorite omul and other species. commercial fish. Thus, the seal provides food for the Baikal fish and saves them from extinction.

Fact 3: Nerpa is a talented builder

The seals wait out the winter under the ice, scratching special vents for breathing in its thickness. Each animal maintains several of these open vents. In hummocks, female seals build real snow houses for themselves, where pups are born in February-March: this is how young seals are called because of their white and yellow color.

The color serves as their main defense against predators (crows, foxes or wolves prey on weak cubs) and makes the babies invisible on the snow-white Baikal ice. Inside such shelters, which mothers equip for their children, a special microclimate is formed, in which even in 20-degree Siberian frosts the temperature can reach 5 degrees Celsius. Here, the babies spend the first 4-5 weeks of their lives, and the mother leaves them only for the duration of the hunt. The cubs feed on their mother's fat milk (the fat content of milk is 50-60%) and have time to grow from 3-5 kg ​​(at birth) to 20-30 kg. At the same time, the total weight of his body increases by 7-9 times, and the mass of subcutaneous fat - by 22 times. The fat of mother's milk is deposited in the cub under the skin, forming a kind of fat "bag" on the body. This "bag" plays the same role as a sleeping bag for a person.

Fact 4: Seals have their own "sanatoriums"

However, everyone who is seriously interested in Baikal knows that the Baikal seal has a favorite place where you can see hundreds or even thousands of individuals. This place is the small Ushkany Islands. Such coastal rookeries become a kind of sanatoriums or "rest houses": animals often accumulate there, which need rest and recovery. The reason may be wounds that have not healed after the winter, molting that has not been completed in time, or other health problems that the seal swims to heal in the Baikal sun.

Fact 5: The seal has its own alarm clock

In fact, seals cannot breathe underwater. Under experimental conditions, in a large aquarium, the seal can be under water for up to 68 minutes. In nature, the Baikal seal is under water for up to 20-25 minutes - this is enough for him to get food or escape from danger.

But at the same time, the seal can sleep in the water, and its sleep lasts as long as there is a supply of oxygen in the lungs. The question is, how can she sleep in the water, if in active state can she be under water for no more than 25 minutes? The fact is that when the seal sleeps, it consumes much less oxygen, as it is in an immobilized state. If you swim up to a sleeping seal, it will not wake up, even if you touch it or turn it over in the water. So only a lack of oxygen can wake up a seal. Here is such a reliable alarm clock!

The seal lives in the water. The seal has no gills. The question is how does the seal breathe in winter under the ice?

As a child, I thought that seals swim in warm seas for the winter. Then I found out that all winter long they maintain vent holes through which they emerge to breathe. Chukchi and Eskimos (usually always, now very rarely) went to sea with specially trained dogs to look for these same holes-vents for hunting seals.

2.

It is extremely difficult to see such a hole, despite the fact that the hole itself is 50 cm in diameter and more. A snow-ice dome rises above the hole, which reliably hides the exit from both animals and from frost and snow. A seal is also found in the Anadyr estuary. But that’s what my dog ​​Loki turned out to be, I found out only this Sunday, when I went skiing to Tolstoy Cape. The dog found four holes-vents while we reached the cape. The hole is so well camouflaged that you can walk right next to it, or even not notice it. The seal's lair emits a smell that oozes through a small hole in the "dome" above the hole. And it doesn't smell in the hole fresh cucumbers, as near the holes of the Anadyr fishermen.

3. Dome on the hole

4. Found a hole!

5. In some vents, seals arrange birth beds. Under the snow, they dig out the whole labyrinths of tunnels.

6. Inside the hole

7.

8. Literally a few meters from the hole there is a snowmobile track

Baikal seal- one of the three species of freshwater seals that live on our planet. This animal is endemic and the only mammal living in the waters of Lake Baikal, located in the south of Eastern Siberia. It is considered one of the most interesting objects of the so-called ecological tourism, which is rapidly gaining popularity. Read more about the lifestyle and habitat of the Baikal seal later in this article.

Short description

Adult animals can reach a length of 165 cm, and their weight varies between 50-120 kg. The growth of seals stops only at the nineteenth year of life, however, at the same time, body weight can periodically gain or decrease. The Baikal seal lives on average 55-60 years.

Under water, the animal usually swims at a speed of no more than 8 km / h, but during hunting or in case of a threat, it can increase significantly. Getting ashore, the seal slowly moves with the help of flippers and tail, however, sensing danger, it gallops rather dashingly, pushing them off the ground.

Baikal seals do not need to dive too deep. The fact is that they feed on such non-commercial fish as golomyanka, omul and goby, which are found in the illuminated areas of the lake. But, despite this, they are able to dive to a depth of 200-300 m and withstand a pressure of 21 atmospheres. The seal can be under water for more than one hour. This time is quite enough to find food or escape from persecution.

The first mention of the animal

It belongs to the beginning of the 17th century. At that time, the second Kamchatka, or, as it was also called, the Great Northern Expedition, organized by Vitus Bering himself, passed here. It also included a group of researchers headed by I. G. Gmelin. She was the one who did more in-depth study nature of Lake Baikal and its environs. It was then that a seal was first seen, which was later called a seal.

Then the locals claimed that the same animal was found not only in the waters of Lake Baikal, but also in the Baunt lakes. It is assumed that the seal could get there in two ways - through the Lena or Vitim rivers. Some researchers are inclined to the version that the seal could have penetrated there directly through Baikal, since it had previously communicated with these lakes. However, none of the above assumptions has yet been able to find reliable confirmation.


Favorite habitats

The Baikal seal can be found throughout the reservoir, but the largest concentration of these animals is most often observed in the middle and northern parts of the lake. However, their most favorite habitat is the Ushkany Islands, which are part of national park under the name "Zabaikalsky".

If there is no ice on the lake, the seals prefer to rest, lying on the rocks protruding from the water and basking in the sun, alternately substituting under it warm rays one side, then the other. The largest number these animals can be observed in June, when they come to the surface for a long time and are located along the rocky shores of the Ushkany Islands.


Where does the Baikal seal winter?

In the cold season, animals live on the ice in special lairs located under the snow. Often they are found in hummocky areas of the lake. When Baikal begins to freeze, animals make the main ice on the ice, the average diameter of which is about 150 cm. It is interesting that seals can keep it in this state for a long time, from time to time removing the ice formed on it.

With the onset of severe frosts, when the lake freezes, these animals, being under a layer of snow, breathe only through secondary vents. To do this, they rake the ice with the help of their forelimbs, which end in strong claws. Thus, a seal's lair can have up to a dozen such vents located along its perimeter. The diameter of the secondary vents is no more than 15 cm. Such a hole is quite enough for the animal to stick its nose in there.


reproduction

Puberty in these animals occurs already in the fourth year of life in females and in the sixth in males. The period of bearing cubs of Baikal seals lasts 11 months. After the female is 40 years old, she is no longer able to give birth. In her entire life, she can give birth to 20, and under favorable conditions, more cubs.

Before giving birth, the female prepares a reliable snow shelter. Usually one or two cubs are born. The weight of newborns is no more than 4 kg. Seals have a soft white fur, which is why they are often called pups.


Caring for offspring

The snow lair is quite warm: at an external temperature of -20 ⁰C inside the “room”, it is +5 ⁰C. Baby seals stay in the shelter for five weeks. During this time, they eat only mother's milk and do not leave it for a minute. Before the lair begins to collapse, the squirrel manages to molt. The female leaves her cub only to hunt.

The lactation period for seals is about 60-75 days. It can last much longer, as it directly depends on the presence of ice cover. Before the babies begin to hunt on their own, they completely molt. At the same time, their fur turns from white to gray-silver. Color change occurs gradually and lasts about three months. In adult seals, the fur has a brownish-brown color.


The Baikal seal, starting from birth, knows how to build vents. This fact was confirmed by a specially conducted experiment. To do this, a small sheet of foam plastic 5 cm thick was placed directly on the water in the aquarium, while the rest of the space was left free. Several small seals, whose age did not exceed two months, began to make blowholes in the floating platform - special holes through which they breathed, sticking their nose in there. Surprisingly, the cubs did this, despite the fact that next to them was open water. However, they, as if not noticing this, swam up from below, inhaled the air and again descended to the depth.

To conduct this experiment, several Baikal seal cubs were caught, which were no more than two weeks old. At this age, they still feed on their mother's milk, which means that the animals have never been immersed in water in their lives. When they grew up a little, during the first voyage, the seals demonstrated that the ability to make vents in the ice is their innate ability.

Another interesting fact is that this animal is able to sleep for quite a long time right in the water, while practically not moving. Sleep can continue until the oxygen in the blood runs out. It is so strong that scuba divers can swim close to the Baikal seal and even turn it over, and the animal continues to sleep peacefully. Such fearlessness of seals is due to the fact that natural enemies in this ecological environment They dont have. For them, only human activity poses a real threat.


Animal fishing

The Baikal seal, whose photo is located in this article, is an object of hunting. Its meat, fat and fur are especially valued, from which hats are sewn. In addition, hunters often use the skin to pad their skis. Seal meat can be eaten. They also eat boiled flippers, which are considered a delicacy. The most tender and tasty is the meat of young individuals.

IN old times seal fat was used in soap making and leather production. In 1895-1897, animal fat was used in large quantities to illuminate the mines that are part of the Lena gold mines. As for the locals, they were sure that seal fat was healing, so they used it for stomach ulcers, as well as for various lung diseases.

The hunting season for the Baikal seal begins in April and lasts as long as it is possible to move around the frozen lake. In addition, the animal can be caught with the help of nets. This method is more rational, since there are no losses that occur during shooting. The fact is that wounded animals often go under the ice. Where they die. Nowadays, seal hunting is not prohibited. Every year, at least 5-6 thousand seals are caught or shot.

Cause of mass death

It first happened in 1987. IN Lately Some scholars have been investigating the causes mass death animals. Their diagnostics showed that the seals died due to the carnivore distemper virus. Interestingly, this disease affects both domestic and wild animals.

There is documented evidence that about one and a half thousand individuals died from distemper in 1987 and 1988. At the same time, fishing during the 80s of the last century amounted to at least 5 thousand heads. Fortunately, the Baikal seal was not included in the Red Book, as it was noticed that the population of the animal exceeded the optimal number. In addition, such shooting, according to scientists, is even useful, as it helps to reduce intraspecific competition and allows animals to gain weight faster.

It breathes air, feeds its young with milk, and eats fish. Miracle Yudo? Of course not, but the most highly developed animal of the representatives Baikal fauna- Baikal seal.

Uniqueness in everything

The uniqueness of the Baikal seal lies in the fact that it is the only mammal that lives on. Belongs to the family. Enough large mammal, body length reaches up to 140 cm, and weight reaches a full 90 kg. Males are always larger and heavier than females. Even a newborn cub is particularly weighty; at birth, it weighs about 3 kilograms.

The color is rather monotonous light gray on the back, closer to the belly, the transition to yellow begins. Such, dull at first glance, coloring perfectly masks the seal. In nature, she has no natural enemies, the only one who hunts her is a man.


The skin of the seal is considered the warmest and most practical, so the fishermen catch this animal. The indigenous inhabitants of Transbaikalia are happy to use the meat of the hunted seal for food.

Nature and biology create perfection

The seal has very powerful paws crowned with strong nails, which allows it to tear apart a thin part of the ice in winter in order to breathe oxygen. The constant presence under water at dusk has formed a certain device of the eyes, they are rather convex, which allows the seal to easily get food for itself. The seal can stay under water for up to an hour, holding its breath for this period, it is an amazing swimmer, thanks to the increased concentration of hemoglobin, it can dive up to 300 meters deep.


Her habitat habitats - water depths, despite its impressive dimensions, it is very maneuverable and dexterous in water, under water it can reach speeds of up to 25 km / h. But, like all seals, it is completely clumsy on land, in moments of danger, being on the shore, it can go to the races, which looks pretty funny.


Seals are beautiful and graceful animals.

The favorite food of the seal is the small and large golomyanka, long-winged goby, yellow-winged goby, sandy sculpin. Golomyankas occupy the main stage in the nutrition of seals. The seal eats from 3 to 5 kg of fish per day. And it takes 2-3 hours to digest food in the stomach.

The sacrament of birth or where seals come from

Females after 4 years of life are ready for mating and reproduction, but males are a little behind and mature a couple of years later. mating season For seals it lasts from the end of March to the end of April. At this time, the males make every effort to invite the female to the ice to mate. And if successful, a small seal will be born in 11 months. natural feature It consists in delaying pregnancy for 2-3 months, that is, a fertilized egg may be in the fading stage, and only after this period, the female's pregnancy will begin to develop.


It is the female who takes care of the place of the future birth for her cubs, usually this is a den in the snow, since the cubs appear in winter. After the birth of the baby, the seal mother will feed him with milk for 3 months. Baby seals are born completely dependent on their mother, their skin is colored in White color. During the feeding period, the mother will only go fishing for her own food, the female spends the rest of the time with the babies. When she is in the lair, the temperature there rises to +5, although outside it the temperature can drop to -15.