Seals

Species
Seals

Species
Seals

Seals

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Facts
Threats
What WWF is Doing
How You Can Help

Facts

Seals are found along most coasts and cold waters, but a majority of them live in the Arctic and Antarctic waters. Harbor, ringed, ribbon, spotted and bearded seals, as well as northern fur seals and Steller sea lions live in the Arctic region.

Places
Arctic
Habitats
Ocean Habitat

Browse Photos & Videos

Manmade snowbanks give ringed seals a chance

Each winter the ringed seals of Finland’s Lake Saimaa give birth inside snowbanks atop the frozen lake.

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Threats

Hunting

Human greed has led to the decline of many seal populations. In the past, millions of seals were killed for their valuable meat, blubber, and pelts. In some countries seals are still killed in large numbers because fishermen blame them for the decline in fish.

Climate Change

The ringed, ribbon, spotted and bearded seals, collectively known as “ice seals,” are Arctic inhabitants. The entire ringed seal lifecycle relies on ice and rapid ice loss in the Arctic causes seal pups to be prematurely separated from their mothers during the milking period. Rapid ice loss and the inability to build dens for protection leads to high pup mortality.

What WWF Is Doing

WWF works with agencies and coastal communities to ensure that harbor seals and other marine mammals are sustainably managed.

How You Can Help

Support WWF

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