Lake Baikal is famous for its depth, purity of water and beautiful nature around. But he has another attraction. Once unusual seals settled here, and there are no such animals in any other body of water in the world. Therefore, they are called endemic, that is, living in a limited space, in a small habitat.

How seals ended up in Baikal

The way of life of Baikal seals is well studied. But how, from where they got into this body of water, remote from the seas and oceans, remains a mystery to scientists. There are 2 more species of freshwater seals: one of them also lives in Russia, in Ladoga, and the other has mastered Lake Saimaa in Finland. Their appearance there is associated with a change in the northern water spaces in ice age, and for Baikal seals such an explanation is not suitable.

The seal is endemic to Lake Baikal.

What do seals look like

The Baikal seal is a large and strong animal. It grows in length for almost 19 years and reaches 110-165 cm with a weight of 50-130 kg. The body is similar in shape to a spindle - it expands towards the head and narrows towards the tail, there is no neck. The front flippers have large claws and are more developed than the hind flippers. Between the fingers of the membrane.

In seals of Baikal, the body and flippers are protected by a short, but dense and hard hairline. His the color on the back is brownish-gray with different shades, and on the chest and stomach it is light gray with yellowness. Sometimes the coloration is spotted.

Long and stiff hairs are visible on the upper lip - these are vibrissae. They are very sensitive and serve as a way for seals to navigate on land and in water.

Important abilities of the seal

Baikal seals have no one to be afraid of in the world around them, only human hunters are dangerous for them. Caution, the ability of swimmers and an inconspicuous color help animals escape from death.

This type of seal tolerates severe climatic conditions. A thick layer of fat under waterproof wool does not allow hypothermia, it also gives strength and energy in case of shortage of food.

Water is their element.

Baikal seals stay in the water for the winter, under the ice. Animals make breathing holes in it with claws and teeth in advance and then do not allow these holes to freeze until spring.

The seals have well-developed eyesight, hearing and sense of smell, and the dexterity of movement in the water seems incredible. If necessary, they can:

  • reach speeds up to 25 km / h;
  • go to a depth of 400 meters;
  • hold your breath and stay under water for up to 40 minutes.

Hunting and food

The Baikal seal eats 3-5 kg ​​of fish per day, and almost a ton per year. He does not need to compete with a person in the extraction of food, because he hunts only for non-commercial representatives underwater world. But a seal will not refuse to feast on a valuable breed if it finds itself in the place where it was caught in fishing nets.

Fish is the main delicacy.

Seal mothers and their cubs

Females of the Baikal seal give birth to one cub, two at once - rarely. This happens in March, in the snow holes that mother seals make on the frozen surface of the lake. Newborn seal pups weigh 3-4 kg. They are covered with white fur, which is why they received the nickname white squirrel from the locals. This coloration serves them for camouflage in snowy expanses.

For two months, the babies live with their mothers and feed on milk. Then they get necessary skills, switch to a fish diet, molt, and the color of their coat gradually changes.

Maternal care.

Protection of the Baikal seal

Baikal seals are well adapted for survival, the age of 50 years is not the limit for them. But still these animals were listed in the Red Book, and at the beginning of the 21st century hunting for them was banned. The right to prey was reserved only for scientists and indigenous people living near the lake.

Now the number of seals exceeds 100 thousand individuals. They explore new areas of Baikal and surprise tourists and local residents with their abundance when they get out on the rocky shores to bask in the sun. And most of them are on the Ushkany Islands, on the territory of the Zabaikalsky nature reserve.

Good to bask in the sun.

At the end of the message - a few more facts from the life of the unique Baikal seals:

  • They are curious and specially look out of the water to watch the ships.
  • On land, seals are slow and clumsy, and in case of danger, they try to move in leaps and bounds.
  • These are the only mammals on Baikal.
  • Seals sleep in the water so tightly that scuba divers managed to turn them from side to side.
  • Muscovites and guests of the Russian capital can admire these cute animals in the Moskvarium.

The seal is an amazing animal that lives in extreme conditions. In addition, the seal helped the peoples of the north of Russia to survive in the most difficult conditions. This statement is indisputable, since only hunting for seals and various types of pinnipeds allowed them to survive in the most difficult conditions.

What kind of mammal is this that saved the Yakuts, Buryats and several other small nationalities living in the northern regions from extinction Russian Federation?

Nerpa - description of the animal, photo and video

This amazing mammal has a spindle-shaped body, which smoothly passes into the head. The limbs of the seal are flippers, while the front flippers are equipped with powerful claws and impressive muscles. It is the front limbs that help her to make an outlet in the ice in order to breathe in air or rest on ice or stones after hunting or escaping from a predator.

In addition, this mammal has a significant layer of subcutaneous fat, the thickness of which can vary from 2 to 14 cm.

Scientists distinguish three types of this type of seal: Baikal, Caspian and ringed seals. It was the fat, skin and meat of these animals that allowed several small nationalities of our Motherland to survive.

Using animal fat and meat to feed, heat and light their dwellings, and skins to make clothes, boats and dwellings themselves, thousands, and possibly millions of people, were able to withstand the harshest conditions of life.

The habitat of this unique mammal is quite extensive and affects both the regions of the extreme north of the Russian Federation and in the lakes of the northern regions of our Motherland. In addition, these animals are also found in the Caspian Sea. This species of seals, living in Lake Baikal and the Caspian Sea, are considered the most interesting for scientific study, as many scientists consider them to be witnesses to the initial distribution of seals in lakes after the end of the Ice Age.

Since this species of the seal family, like its closest relatives, is a predator, the basis of the animal's diet is fish. In addition, in the event of an unsuccessful hunt, this mammal will not give up various types of crustaceans and zooplankton.

At the same time, the seal does not give preference to any particular type of fish, but hunts for any fish that is common in its habitat. However, in addition to humans, they also have natural enemies that significantly affect the population of seals. Natural enemies include: sea lions, killer whales, walruses, arctic foxes and other marine and land animals.

Despite the colonization of the regions of the far north of Russia and the break in the way of life that has occurred, the commercial production of seals pursues almost the same goals as several hundred years ago. Fat, which has some medical properties, is used in various diseases associated with hypothermia (frostbite), and meat - with a lack of vitamin C (scurvy).

However, the main reasons for industrial production remain the skins of the animal. Due to the presence of dense thick fur and the high strength of the skin itself, clothing and hats made from the skin of this animal are very popular not only among residents of the far north, but also among residents of more southern regions.

Given the above, we can confidently say that if the seal, as a species, had died in the process of evolution, it would have become much poorer.

Let's watch the video - the seal communicates with the girl:

Today we can say with confidence that if the seal, due to a number of serious circumstances, died in the process of evolution as a species, then the planet Earth would become much poorer. Why? We will try to answer the question in this article.

After reading it, it will be possible to find out information about what a seal animal is, what is its value, what features it has, etc.

general information

Common name aquatic species mammals of the true ringed and Baikal families) - seals.

Sea seals in Russia are distributed from the coasts of Murmansk to the Bering Strait, including in the waters of Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya, Severnaya Zemlya, White Sea and It inhabits the coastal parts of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, including its numerous bays, as well as the coasts of the Sakhalin Bay and Eastern Sakhalin. The habitat of seals reaches the shores Japanese island Hokkaido.

There are also seals living in a reservoir with fresh water. For example, the famous Russian Lake Baikal is known all over the world not only because it is the deepest and most beautiful lake. The most unique animals live in its waters, which are not found anywhere else in similar reservoirs. This is a seal, which is endemic and a relic of the tertiary fauna. It is called the Baikal seal.

Description

Who are the seals? These amazing mammals have a spindle-shaped body, smoothly passing into the head.

In growth, they reach 165 cm, and their weight ranges from 50 to 130 kg. The body of the animal contains great amount subcutaneous fat, which perfectly retains heat in cold water and helps the animal to wait out big periods lack of food, as well as stay on the water surface during sleep. They sleep so soundly that there have even been cases when scuba divers could turn them over without interfering with their sleep.

The strong skin of the animal is covered with a hard, dense and short hairline. Between the fingers they have membranes, and the front flippers are equipped with powerful claws. It is thanks to the forelimbs that the seals make an vent in the ice in order to go out after the hunt and rest on the rocks or on the ice, as well as to breathe fresh air.

The seal has a phenomenal ability to stay under water continuously for up to 40 minutes. This is due to the presence of a small volume of the lungs and the content of dissolved oxygen in the blood. Thanks to its hind legs, the animal swims quite quickly under water, but on its surface it is completely clumsy and clumsy.

In the past, the Baikal seal was a rather revered animal, especially among the peoples involved in most of the sea hunting. Even now, some Orochi put wild garlic and tobacco in the mouth of the seal they have caught, because for them it is a kind of sacrifice to Temu, to which the seal is most directly related, because he is the master of the sea element.

In the old days, the Baikal seal trade had a great economic importance in the life of the local population, the production of these animals was strictly limited. Compared to the skins of other seal varieties, their fur (both pups and adults) is the best fur raw material, and therefore they are more valued.

Habitat of Baikal seals

Food

The basis of the nutrition of the sea seal is fish and crustaceans, which form large accumulations in the uppermost layers of the water.

The favorite food of the Baikal seal is the Baikal goby and the golomyanka fish. For a year, this animal consumes more than a ton of such feed. Rarely, omul, which makes up approximately 3% of his daily diet, also gets into his food.


family pinnipeds

Seals are a family of mammals belonging to the order of pinnipeds (Pinnipedia). Seals are called representatives of the families of sea lions, or eared seals (Otariidae) and seals, or true seals (Phocidae). The eared seal family is represented by two species - seals and sea lions.

Depending on the breed and habitat, the family real seals subdivided into many genera, species and subspecies. Consider several genera and species of true seals living in the CIS:

Genus Harbor seals (Phoca)

Common or spotted seal or common seal (Phoca vitulina)

Larga, or motley seal (Phoca larga)

Ringed seal, or ringed seal, or Akiba (Phoca hispida)

Baikal seal (Phoca sibirica; syn. Pusa sibirica)

Caspian seal, or Caspian seal (Phoca caspica; syn. Pusa caspica)

Striped seal, or lionfish (Phoca fasciata; syn. Histriophoca fasciata)

Harp seal, or bald seal (Phoca groenlandica; syn. Pagophilus groenlandicus)

Genus Long-faced, or gray, seals (Halichoerus)

Long-faced or gray seal or tevyak (Halichoerus grypus)

Genus Ukrainian seals (Cystophora)

hooded seal, or white-bellied seal (Cystophora cristata)

Genus Monk seals (Monachus)

Monk seal (Monachus monachus)

Genus Sea hares (Erignathus)

Sea hare, or bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus)

In both groups, both pairs of limbs are transformed into flippers, limbs with webbed fingers, armed with claws. The rear flippers are directed backwards and are used for swimming. In eared seals, the forelimbs serve for movement in the water, and the hind limbs serve as rudders in the water, and on land they bend forward and support a massive body.

Seals are well adapted to an aquatic lifestyle and low temperatures due to living in harsh arctic conditions. They spend their entire lives surrounded by ice and snow in the cold Arctic waters. A thick layer of subcutaneous fat takes on the main thermoregulatory function, which reduces the specific weight of the body and facilitates swimming.

harbor seal

harbor seal(lat. Phoca vitulina Linnaeus) is a representative of the family of true seals. Two subspecies are in the Red Book - the European subspecies and the Steineger or island seal. Some subspecies are endangered, the subspecies Phoca vitulina vitulina is protected under the Wadden Sea Agreement.

There are five subspecies of the harbor seal:

The West Atlantic seal, Phoca vitulina concolor, is found in eastern North America;

Ungava seal, Phoca vitulina mellonae - found in fresh waters eastern part of Canada. Some researchers include the subspecies P. v. concolor;

Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi. Found in western North America;

Island seal, Phoca vitulina stejnegeri. Found in East Asia;

East Atlantic seal, Phoca vitulina vitulina. The most widespread of all subspecies of the common seal. Found in Europe and Western Asia.

Seals are common in the seas adjacent to the Arctic Ocean, the Barents, Japan, Okhotsk, Bering and Chukchi Seas, as well as in inland waters - in lakes Baikal, Ladoga, Caspian. They inhabit the coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Baltic and North Seas. Harbor seals usually inhabit rocky places where they cannot be reached by predators.

Usually the main background of the head, sides and flippers is yellowish-ocher-olive, on the back there is a beautiful pattern of olive-black-brown spots with outlines of oblong strokes. Harbor seals are brown, rufous or gray in color and have characteristic V-shaped nostrils. Western water seals have two types of coloration: dark and light. In seals (larga) of eastern waters, the main tone is lighter and brighter, spots are rarer and smaller, dark individuals are very rare. Adult individuals reach 1.85 m in length and 132 kg of weight. Females live up to 30-35 years, and males up to 20-25 years. The global population of seals ranges from 400,000 to 500,000 individuals.

Larga, or motley seal

Larga, or motley seal (lat. Phoca largha) is a species of seal that is closely related to the common seal and has a similar appearance. The word "larga" seals called the Tungus. It lives in the North Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Japan and the Far East coast of Russia. The spotted seal lives in the Sea of ​​Japan all year round. Spotted seals prefer shallow bays, small islands and small rock formations near the coast.

The color of the fur is light, variegated, whitish or light silver below, darker above, dark gray. Along the back, on the sides and belly - brown-brown-black spots of irregular shape. Adult spotted seals weigh from 81 to 109 kg and reach a length of 1.7 m for males and 1.6 m for females. The animal's flippers help to move not only in water, but also on the surface.

The fur of a newborn seal is white, the subcutaneous layer of fat immediately after birth is small, but for 3 weeks, while he drinks fatty mother's milk, the amount of fat increases, the baby rapidly gains weight. Already by 4 weeks, the body of the cub fully adapts to the world around it. He becomes ready for active swimming and learning to forage on his own. But even if they cannot immediately learn to catch their own food, the store of fat accumulated during breastfeeding is enough for 10-12 weeks of life.

The population of spotted seals is estimated at 230,000 individuals. Larga is a rather numerous species in Far Eastern seas so they are allowed to hunt. In addition, a certain number of animals are also harvested for industrial purposes, obtaining skin, fur, lard and meat. Despite the population, the spotted seal is a little-studied animal. You can see these animals from afar and only guess what the seals are doing.

ringed seal

Ringed seal, or ringed seal(lat. Phoca hispida) - a species of true seals, most common in the Arctic. In addition to the Arctic Ocean, this close relative The common seal lives in the Baltic Sea, as well as in lakes Ladoga and Saimaa.

There are 4 subspecies of ringed seals that live in different living spaces, but they are all located in polar or subpolar regions:

The White Sea subspecies (P. h. hispida) is the most common seal in the Arctic Ocean and lives on ice floes.

The Baltic subspecies (P. h. botnica) lives in cold regions Baltic Sea, in particular off the coasts of Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Russia, occasionally reaching Germany.

The Ladoga (P. h. ladogensis) freshwater species lives in Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia, this subspecies is included in the Red Data Books of Russia and Karelia.

Saimaa (P. h. saimensis) freshwater species, lives in Lake Saimaa. The Saimaa seal is under the immediate threat of extinction, this subspecies is the only mammal endemic to Finland. According to estimates in 2012, there were about 310 representatives of this subspecies.

The ringed seal is so named for the light rings with a dark frame that make up the pattern of its coat. The ringed seal is the smallest seal species found in the Arctic; its length is up to 1.5 m, and its weight is 40-80 kg. Baltic specimens are slightly larger - 140 cm and 100 kg. Males are larger than females. Ringed seals have good eyesight, as well as excellent hearing and smell. The fur of the seal is thicker and longer than that of other seals. On a gray background there are spots bordered by light rings. In the fishery, seal fat is extracted, up to 20 kg from one individual, the skins are used for the manufacture of leather and fur products.

Baikal seal

Baikal seal, or Baikal seal(lat. pusa sibirica) - one of three freshwater species seal in the world, endemic to Lake Baikal, a relic of the Tertiary fauna. It occurs only in Lake Baikal, from which it enters rivers, such as the Angara and Selenga. The main habitat in Baikal is pelagial. Sometimes found in sors and bays of the lake.

Body length of adult seals is from 110 to 150 cm, weight is from 60 to 130 kg. The Baikal seal has a fusiform body, the neck is not separated from the body. Between the fingers - membranes. The front flippers are armed with powerful claws, of which the front is the most powerful. Thin, rather long claws of the hind flippers are weaker than the claws of the front ones.

The skin of the seal is covered with rather dense short, up to 2 cm, fur. The edges of the ear canal, a narrow ring around the eyes and nostrils remain bare. The muzzle of males is almost naked, flippers are covered with hair. The color of the upper body of the Baikal seal is brownish-gray with a silvery tint; the bottom is slightly lighter.

On the upper lips seals usually have eight translucent vibrissae arranged in regular rows. In males, the oral vibrissae are shorter than in females. There are supraorbital vibrissae. Such "eyebrows" consist of seven vibrissae, of which six are located in a regular circle, and the seventh is in the center. The nostrils of the seal represent two vertical slits; their outer edges form leathery folds - valves. In water, the nostrils and ear openings remain tightly closed. Under the pressure of the air released from the lungs, the nostrils open.

Fishing has been banned since 1980. The Baikal seal is included in the IUCN-2008 Red List as a species close to extinction.

There is a mention of the Baikal seal in the reports of the first explorers who came to Lake Baikal in the first half of the 17th century. A scientific description was first made during the work of the 2nd Kamchatka, or the 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 studied the nature of the lake and its environs in many ways and described the seal.

According to the legend of local residents, one or two centuries ago, the seal met in the Baunt lakes. It is believed that the seal got there along the Lena and Vitim. Some naturalists believe 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.

Caspian seal

Caspian seal, or Caspian seal(lat. Phoca caspica) - a species of real seals, a detachment of pinnipeds. The smallest seal in the world, endemic to the Caspian Sea. It is found in the waters of the entire sea - from the coastal regions of the Northern Caspian to the coast of Iran.

Body length 1.2-1.4 m, weight up to 90 kg. The coloration of the back of adult seals is olive-gray, Bottom part body, sides, front of the head, cheeks and throat - a dirty straw-whitish tone. The upper part of the body is covered with spots.

This unique species is in danger of extinction: over the past 100 years, its population has declined by 90%. If at the beginning of the 20th century the number of Caspian seals reached 1 million individuals, then, according to aerial photography, the number of animals in 1989 was about 400 thousand individuals, in 2005 - 111 thousand individuals, and in 2008 no more than 100 thousand individuals. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the last century included the Caspian seals in the list of "vulnerable" species. Currently, these animals are transferred to the category of endangered species. One of the main negative factors leading to the reduction of the species is sea pollution and fishing for seals.

striped seal

striped seal, or lionfish (Histriophoca fasciata) - a species of the family of true seals. It got its name due to its distinctive coloration. Adult males have a very contrasting color - a general dark, almost black background with white stripes encircling the body in several places. Females have a less contrasting color, their general background is lighter, and the stripes sometimes merge and are often almost indistinguishable. The body length of an adult animal is 150-190 cm, weight is 70-90 kg.

The lionfish is common in the northern part Pacific Ocean- in the Chukchi, Bering, Okhotsk Seas and the Tatar Strait. It mostly prefers the open sea, but in case of ice drift it can be close to the coast.

harp seal

harp seal, or lysun (lat. Pagophilus groenlandicus) is a species of marine mammals of the family of true seals (Phocidae) from the order of pinnipeds (Pinnipedia) common in the Arctic.

Harp seals are found in the Arctic waters of the Arctic Ocean. There are three populations of harp seals that almost never overlap. The first population is distributed in the Barents, White and Kara seas. The second population lives off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The third population has chosen for itself places north of Jan Mayen.

The body length of adult males is 1.7-2 m, females 1.5-1.8 m, weight 150-160 kg. The coloration of an adult male (bat) and a female (Utelga) differs sharply. The adult male is white with a straw-yellow tint, the muzzle is black, on the back on each side there is a wide black stripe. An adult female with a light muzzle, a smoky gray eye, a light belly, dark brown or black spots of irregular shape on the back and sides.

With age, the color of the fur of the bald man changes. Newborn seals are white - pups. After the first molt, the long white fur becomes short and grey. During the molting period, when young seals are white and gray, they are called khokhlush, and after molting, they are called serks. At the age of two years, the color of the fur is ash-gray with dark spots. In the third year of life, it fades, and dark spots turn pale. Seals at the age of two and three years are called conjui. Only four-year-old seals acquire the characteristic attire of adult animals.

The coat of the harp seal consists of a short, hard and sparse pile, has no undercoat and does not protect the body from cooling. It looks shiny, smooth, thick, durable. It is very warm and dense, protects even from the coldest, most piercing wind, and it is not at all afraid of water. Its delicate velvety and lightness make fur an excellent material for making casual wear and evening wear. Restrained and aristocratic fur looks great on men and women, emphasizing the expressiveness and self-will of the owner.

sea ​​hare

Sea hare, or bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) is a pinniped seal family (Phocidae). The only species of the genus Erignathus. The name "sea hare" was given to this seal by Russian hunters because of its shy habits. Or, according to another version, for the similarity of the "jumps" that he makes when moving on land and ice.

The bearded seal is the largest among the northern seals, over 2 m long and weighing up to 300 kg. The color of the fur is monochromatic brownish-gray, darker on the back than on the belly, sometimes weakly expressed small spots are found on it. The hairline is relatively sparse and coarse. Vibrissae are long, thick and smooth.

The bearded seal is distributed in the marginal seas of the Arctic Ocean and the northern parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In the Atlantic to the south, it occurs up to and including Hudson Bay and coastal waters of Labrador. In the Pacific Ocean south to the northern part of the Tatar Strait. Occasionally occurs in the central parts of the Arctic Ocean. Avoids the open sea, prefers shallow coastal areas.

The commercial value of the bearded seal is significant. It is mined by the local population and special hunting vessels. When fishing, subcutaneous fat (40-100 kg per animal) and the skin are used as raw hides. Meat is also used in some places, mainly for feeding fur-bearing animals.

The Greatness of the Monk Seal

Monk seal, or white-bellied seal(lat. Monachus monachus) is a representative of the genus of monk seals (Monachus), the family of true seals (Phocidae). Is under the threat of extinction.

For a long time, the fishermen of Algeria, Turkey, Libya have been respected by another sea ​​animal- monk seal. If you offend him, they said, you will not see luck in the fishing business. On the west coast In Africa, it was believed that the monk seal monitors the respect of the fisherman for his prey: you can’t swear while fishing. Among the ancient Greeks, the monk seal was under the auspices of two influential gods - Apollo and Poseidon. Many cities in Greece, Turkey and Yugoslavia had the local name of the monk seal in their names. The same animal was Marseille's first totem. The image of a monk seal is often found on ancient Greek coins. In Spain, in the Port of Avil, to this day there is a monument to this marine mammal. And according to biblical legends, the Egyptian pharaoh with his army turned into seals when he rushed to catch up with Moses with the Jews leaving Egypt.

Fur seal

Northern catfish ik, or sea cat, or eared seal (lat. Callorhinus ursinus) - pinniped mammal belonging to the eared seal family. There are 7-9 species of fur seals, which are divided into two genera - 1 species is northern fur seals, and the remaining species are southern fur seals.

The range of various species covers the entire Pacific basin from Alaska and Kamchatka in the north to Australia and the subantarctic islands in the south. In addition, the Cape fur seal lives on the coast of the Namib Desert in South Africa. This is the only marine mammal, about which we can say that it lives in the desert.

Fur seals live on the coasts of the seas and oceans, occupying gently sloping and steep rocky shores. Fur seals have a pronounced gregarious character, their rookeries number several thousand animals, often living in crowded and crushed. Usually, animals rest on the shore, and feed in the sea. However, each such hunt can last up to 2-3 days, so the seals can sleep in the water.

Fur seals feed mainly on fish, less often they can eat cephalopods. In the water, they are dexterous and fast predators, moreover, they are quite voracious. By autumn, fur seals accumulate a thick layer of subcutaneous fat.

Seals have an elongated body, a relatively short neck, a small head, with barely noticeable auricles, and the limbs are flattened into flippers. Fur seals move on land, relying on all four limbs. The tail is short, almost invisible. Fur seals have wet, large, and dark eyes. They are rather myopic, although this is compensated by a well-developed hearing and sense of smell, and are also capable of echolocation.

Fur seals are covered with rather peculiar fur. The fur of fur seals has a low, very thick and soft underfur, and a coarse and stiff awn. There are about 300 thousand hairs on the skin. Ratio awn-down 1:30.

Fur seal color changes with age. The color of animals is often brown, sometimes from silver-gray to black-brown. Newborn seals are a brilliant pure black color, after molting their fur becomes gray. With age, the fur of the cat turns brown. The older the animal, the more dark tones in the color.

Males and females of fur seals differ greatly in size: males look more massive due to the thick neck and are 4-5 times larger than females. The weight of male large northern fur seals can reach 100-250 kg, while females weigh only 25-40 kg.

Apart from natural enemies hunting brings considerable damage to populations. And to this day, the extraction of seals is carried out on an industrial scale. Only cubs are killed (their fur is of the best quality), in addition to the skins, the meat and fat of these animals are also used. However, the main production is for the fashion industry. Some subspecies of fur seals are on the verge of extinction.

This species was described by Carl Linnaeus on the basis of detailed information provided by Georg Steller, who first encountered this species on Bering Island in 1742.

Northern fur seal rookeries were first described in 1741 on Commander Islands expedition of Vitus Bering. Naturalist Georg Steller wrote in his diaries about "countless herds of cats", whose numbers at that time were enormous (Golder, 1925). Since then, hunters for "fur gold" rushed there, as well as to other islands of the northern Pacific, and the rookeries fell into decay many times as a result of uncontrolled fishing and were restored anew. In 1957, a convention was adopted for the conservation of fur seals in the northern part of the Pacific. In recent decades, fur seal hunting has greatly decreased, and on some islands, including Medny Island in 1995, it was completely discontinued due to economic unprofitability (Stus, 2004). On Tyuleniy Island, fur seal hunting has been discontinued for the past 5 years. But every year, teams of trappers arrive here to catch animals on the orders of Russian dolphinariums and oceanariums - usually from 20 to 40 individuals. Until now, small-scale fishing in Russia has been carried out on Bering Island.

fur seal for connoisseurs of beauty

The fur of fur seals is highly valued because of its extraordinary density, tenderness and silkiness. It is very warm and wearable, waterproof and extremely durable, 95% wear. Service life is about 12-14 years.

The fur of seals has high quality and is in high demand in foreign and domestic markets. The best in quality are skins at the age of 2-4 years, length from 50 to 150 cm, older than 4 years are of little use for the manufacture of fur products, as they have rare fluff and thick heavy leather fabric. Natural shades of fur seal - from dark gray to almost black. In the process of dressing, the awn is sometimes plucked out, and the fluff is dyed: the top is black or dark brown, the bottom is cherry or golden. In a one-piece fur seal product, it can seem too heavy, as it creates tight folds at the fold. Looks great in combination with other fur or in the form of decoration. Fur is used to make collars, men's hats, lighter ones - for women's coats.

Designer modern fur seal coat - their straight silhouette shows natural beauty beast and emphasizes the super style and originality of the owner, providing her comfort in any bad weather. Fur coats make women look mysterious and seductive, and men look masculine and powerful.

Seal fishing

Seals are game animals. Three species are characteristic of the Arctic Ocean: the harp seal, the bearded seal and the ringed seal. The harbor seal is found within Russia outside the polar Arctic. In Russia, the harp seal ranks first in terms of prey, the length of an adult animal is over 1.5 m, and its weight is up to 160 kg. Fishing for other seals is difficult due to the fact that they do not form mass concentrations.

In the fishery, fat and skin of adult animals are used, and the skin of seals is used for fur processing. Belk trade - a type of fur trade, the object of which is the Belek. Belek is a newborn baby of the harp or Caspian seal, covered with snow-white fur. For recent years this fishery attracts the attention of various environmental organizations and is subjected to harsh criticism from their side, despite the fact that the indigenous peoples have always held back the number of seals and this has maintained a balance in nature, because. a large number of pups eat all the fish, which can threaten an ecological disaster.

Depending on the breed and habitat of the seal, the fur differs in the length of the pile, color and texture:

Belek - skins have the highest density and quality of fur. They have a primary, shiny, soft, firmly seated hairline. The coloration is white or cream in color, as well as with a grayish even or spotty shade on the spinal part of the skin.

Crested - skins have a primary, dense, soft, firmly seated hairline from light to dark gray on the ridge and silver-gray on the belly.

Serka - molted, sparse, coarse, shiny, short hairline. The coloration is gray or silver-gray with dark spots.

Sivar (Caspian) - the skins of a molted seal under the age of one year, with a shiny, low, soft hair of a variegated gray color.

Akiba - skins of a gray-green color with a yellowish tint, with a pattern of large ring-shaped, dark spots in the middle, surrounded by a light border.

Larga - the color of the skin is light yellow or cream with a pattern of solid dark spots.

Seal - skins have a shiny, thick, low, even, long pile. The fur consists of a rough, almost downless awn, tightly adhering to the skin tissue, dark brownish in color, with ring-shaped spots. The leather is thick and heavy.

Durable seal fur for demanding customers

Seal fur is one of the most popular, beautiful and durable materials. The fur of the seal is thicker, smooth and long, silky to the touch, gray in color with ring-shaped spots. Beautiful silver seal fur with a wonderful beautiful natural pattern has excellent qualities, has unique water-repellent properties. The fur of the seal is extremely practical - it is very durable, does not wipe, does not climb, does not wear out for a long time. Used in its natural form, and also dyed in brown, black, White color using tone and top dyeing. The fur of the seal can be plucked and not plucked. It has high wear resistance - 95%, it is up to 20 seasons and water-repellent properties.

The fur of the seal is quite expensive due to the rarity of this animal. Requires very high quality dressing, due to the thick bottom layer of the skin. The fur of the seal is very hard and a little heavy, therefore short products are often sewn from the seal. After several years of wearing, the mezdra becomes softer and the product made of seal fur looks even more attractive than new. They produce leather and fur products: women's coats, men's jackets, jackets, hats, men's collars and women's bags. The fur of the seal is universal, suitable for classic and sports products, perfectly combined with leather and suede, with shiny fittings, as comfortable as possible in an urban environment.

The fur of the seal looks great on men and women, many fashion houses include it in their winter and autumn collections. Products made of seal fur perfectly fit the figure, ideal for people leading an active lifestyle, mainly men. The fur of the seal drapes beautifully and is suitable for sewing outerwear, skirts, jackets, hats. If a new seal product may seem stiff to you, then after two or three weeks of wearing it, like a leather product, it acquires its natural flexibility.

The rigidity of the skin increases the wearability of this fur, so that the owner of a seal coat or jacket can be sure that it will serve him for a long time and reliably. Clothing made from seal fur, with daily, not very careful wear, can last more than a decade. In bad weather, seal fur retains its appearance and thermal insulation properties. Possesses moisture resistance, she is not afraid pouring rain and reagents with which public utilities sprinkle roads. The fur of the seal requires minimal care: you can remove dirt simply by wiping the fur with a damp sponge, it will sparkle with a beautiful silvery-bluish glow. Upon returning home, a fur coat or jacket is enough to simply brush it off. Seal fur products are beautiful and practical for a city dweller.

Seal products are suitable for active, energetic people who do not like it when clothes restrict movement. For those who want to look good but don't like to spend too much time caring for their clothes. Those who pick up fur for daily wear, and not in order to impress friends. Those who seek to combine comfort and elegance in clothes.

With the development of the fur industry, some species of marine animals, which are valuable raw materials for the fur industry, were on the verge of extinction. Every year, the snow-white landscape of the east coast of Canada is covered in bloody footprints. Hunters brutally kill thousands of innocent seal cubs, who die in terrible agony, and their skins are used to make luxury items. Therefore, think about whether the life of a little pup is worth your fur product? For more information on how to protect marine animals, please visit:

Baikal seal, or Baikal seal

Mammals in Baikal are represented by the only endemic species - the seal (seal), whose entire life is directly connected with the aquatic environment. The Baikal seal is a relic of the Tertiary fauna. The time of its separation from the common trunk of ancestors is about 20 thousand years.

A small seal lives in the "pearl of Siberia" - the Baikal seal, a close relative of the ringed seal (lives in the Arctic Ocean), and belongs to the family of real seals, one of the three families of the order of pinnipeds, along with eared seals and walruses.

No one still knows how the seal got to Baikal. This riddle is connected with the legend that Baikal is connected by a mysterious channel to the Arctic Ocean. But, of course, there is no tunnel. It is believed that the seal entered the lake from the Arctic Ocean through the Yenisei-Angara river system during the Ice Age.

The seal inhabits almost the entire water area of ​​Lake Baikal, but unevenly. Most of all it is in Middle Baikal (about half of the population) and in the east of the lake (one third of the population). The rest prefers South Baikal. The main rookeries are Aaya Bay, Cape Sagan, Cape Khoboy and, of course, the Ushkany Islands, the largest rookery. Here animals are attracted by good food, comfortable stones for resting and, most importantly, there are almost no people. Small groups of seals can be found on coastal rocks near rocky capes. northeast coast Baikal.

An adult seal is covered with dense short hair, which on the back has a monochromatic brownish-gray color with an olive-gray and silvery tint, and is lighter on the sides and on the abdomen. But it is not the fur that warms, but the subcutaneous layer of fat, which reaches a thickness of up to 12 cm. It protects animals from cold and accidental injuries, is an energy accumulator, increases buoyancy, and in normally well-fed animals makes up more than fifty percent of body weight. The average weight of an adult animal is about 50–60 kg with a length of 150 cm. But there are very large animals weighing up to 100–120 kg with a length of 170–180 cm.

Seals are born with soft white fur, which makes them invisible in the snow - only large black eyes stand out.

Most seals spend the winter alone, each in its own small area, in hummocky ice, far from the coast, having, in addition to the main hole, up to two dozen additional ones. In the thicknesses of snow drifts, seals create dens, where white fluffy seals are born in females in March. There is only one entrance-exit in the lair - into the water. An adult seal scratches it with the claws of its front paws and does not let it freeze all winter. And the seal, barely born, also begins to dig passages, but in the snow. Going outside is dangerous for a seal - crows can easily peck at it.

Milk feeding lasts until the seal loses the cub during the May ice drift among the floating ice floes. In spring, seals love to soak up the sun.

The seals have very sensitive vibrissae-hairs on the upper lips and above the eyes. They help to navigate and catch fish. Sometimes you can meet a blind seal, but usually such animals are quite well-fed.

The seal's nostrils - two vertical slits - close when immersed in water and are kept closed by the force of water pressure.

The ears are just small holes that also close in the water. The seal has very good hearing: in good weather, it catches the steps of a person at a distance of 200–400 meters. And with a favorable breeze, a seal smells a person for 1.5–2 km.

The diet of the seal mainly consists of golomyanka-goby fish, which have no commercial value for humans. The seal eats these fish about three kilograms per day.

The Baikal seal has no natural enemies... Except for humans.

The reduction in the number of Baikal seals is mainly due to hunting - licensed and poaching, as well as chemical pollution of the lake.

The first regular research work on seals was started by Professor Pastukhov in 1966. With the onset of the economic crisis in the late 1980s, regular observations of the population ceased. Only in 1994 was it possible to organize accounting. The total number of seals was estimated at a little over one hundred thousand individuals.

In connection with alarming reports of the death of the seal and the reduction of its population, it was necessary to conduct a new count in April 2000. Greenpeace conducted an ice expedition. 16 routes crossing Baikal from shore to shore were processed, and a complete count of the seal was carried out. Independent scientists involved by Greenpeace to the expedition made disappointing conclusions that the number of the unique seal has noticeably decreased.

In 1999, official bodies believed that the number of seals was 120 thousand individuals. In accordance with this, an unacceptably large quota for seal hunting was calculated. By the way, having learned about the expedition planned by Greenpeace, Baikalrybvod reduced the quota by almost 2 times - to 3,500 animals. Boat hunting was also banned.

It soon became clear that the size of the “main stock” of the seal population was only 67,165 heads. In addition, there is a general aging of the population due to the active fishing of seal cubs - kumutkans. During the period of ice hunting in the last 5–6 years, up to 90% of young animals died. As a result, the reproductive potential of the population is reduced and in the near future this may cause an even greater decline in its numbers. Groups of hunters forced the seal out of its natural habitats (located in the northern part of the lake) to the middle part, where climatic and food conditions are much worse.

Partially, the count of the number of the Baikal seal was repeated during the second Greenpeace ice expedition - in April 2001. Their results fully confirmed last year's findings. Now we can say with confidence that about 70 thousand individuals live in Baikal. The number indicates that the unique seal is under threat.

Greenpeace demands a complete ban on commercial hunting of seals for the next 4-5 years. An exception can only be made for the so-called " traditional nature management» the local population.

From the book Encyclopedic Dictionary (N-O) author Brockhaus F. A.

Nerpa Nerpa is the name given by Russian industrialists in the north to two species of seals: the common seal (Phoca vitulina) and the ringed seal (Phoca annulata s. foetida). In our north, fishing on N. is carried out mainly in spring or autumn, and either the animal is shot when it

From the book Big Soviet Encyclopedia(BA) author TSB

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (GR) of the author TSB

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (KA) of the author TSB

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (KO) of the author TSB

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (KR) of the author TSB

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (LA) of the author TSB

From the author's book

Baikal omul The Baikal subspecies (belongs to the salmon-like order, the whitefish family) differs from the Arctic counterpart in a narrow forehead and big eyes. AT summer period together with peled, it lives at depths of 20–30 m. In the reservoir, it reaches a length of 44 cm and a weight of 1.5 kg.

From the author's book

Weddell seal The Weddell seal is the most characteristic inhabitant of the Antarctic. It penetrates south further than all other seals and stays near the coast of Antarctica and adjacent islands. These seals are usually sedentary, moving only because of too much