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Saimaa Ringed Seal could be extinct in few years
Saimaa ringed seal is endangered and could disappear in only few years
Why?
According to the Finnish stated-owned enterprise Metsähalitus, Saimaa ringed seal could be extinct in few years. There are several reasons that contribute to this terrible fact such as the dispersed nature of the seals themselves, the disturbance to its breeding and snowmobiling during winter, but the main ones are global warming and net fishing. To raise their pups, the Saimaa ringed seals build their nests on the ice. Global warming is bringing mild winters. Some nests built on the ice can collapse if the density of the frozen lake is weak, as it happened in 1980. On the other hand, net fishing causes that pups get trapped in and drowned. In the past decades some fishermen even kill them because they considered the seals a threaten for their catch.
What?
According to the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation Saimaa ringed seal is in immediate danger of extinction. Metsähallitus estimates (2009) that the population of the Saimaa ringed seal is 260, which can give birth to 50 pups each year. Some researches of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) published in the book “Seals, fur seals, sea lions, and walrus: status survey and conservation” that the Saimaa seal population has sharply decreased during the past 50 years.
Who?
This concerns mostly the Saimaa ringed seal, but as a part of an ecosystem it affects other species that live in the lake. Many nature associations are involved and trying to protect the Saimaa seal.
When?
This problem will manifest mainly during warm winters and during fishing seasons.
Where?
Lakeland Saimaa.
References:
http://www.metsa.fi/sivustot/metsa/en/NaturalHeritage/SpeciesandHabitats/ThreatededAnimals/Documents/Saimaaringedseal_English.pdf
http://www.sll.fi/saimaannorppa
http://www.wwf.fi/english/finland/history/
http://www.behav.org/Student_essay/carnivores/seal/rydman_veera_Saimaa_ringed_seal.pdf
http://www.amazon.com/Seals-Fur-Sea-Lions-Walrus/dp/2831701414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271431302&sr=1-1
http://www.metsa.fi/sivustot/metsa/en/NaturalHeritage/SpeciesandHabitats/ThreatededAnimals/Documents/Saimaaringedseal_English.pdf
http://www.sll.fi/saimaannorppa
http://www.wwf.fi/english/finland/history/
http://www.behav.org/Student_essay/carnivores/seal/rydman_veera_Saimaa_ringed_seal.pdf
http://www.amazon.com/Seals-Fur-Sea-Lions-Walrus/dp/2831701414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271431302&sr=1-1
Research question: How to protect the Saimaa ringed seal? How to avoid its disappearance?
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