Last year saw a record number of Saimaa ringed seal pups born, and conservationists are hoping for a similar number this year.
The endangered Saimaa ringed seal, which lives in the Lake Saimaa region of eastern Finland, will begin its nesting and breeding season on Tuesday, according to WWF-Finland.
Wildlife NGOs urge the public not to disturb seals or their natural habitat during this period, which lasts from mid-to-late March, as human interference could threaten the seal pups’ chances of survival. Ta.
This winter, WWF volunteers are working with wildlife conservation organization Metsähallitus to make the Saimaa region the best possible environment for the upcoming seal breeding season, including creating around 250 snowdrifts. I tried.
Seals usually give birth in roosts built in snowdrifts to protect their pups from the cold as well as from predators.
A record number of Saimaa ringed seal pups were born last year, with a total of 100 pups registered in the census conducted by Metsähallitus.
Last year’s figures show that conservation efforts aimed at protecting and replenishing the endangered but much-loved Saimaa seal population are beginning to bear fruit.
Live streaming of Saimaa seals in their natural habitat attracts millions of viewers each year and also helps draw widespread attention to the plight of this species.
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