The Saimaa ringed seal is an endangered seal species in Lake Saimaa in Finland (the lake I live by). In Finnish, this seal is known by the same Pusa hispida saimensis, and for short, it is called Saimaannorppa. Something extremely special about this type of seal is that it only lives in this lake, making the protection and maintenance of the ecosystem of Lake Saimaa extremely important. They estimate that just under 500 of these seals are left in this lake.
Adult seals are more significant than some in the region, averaging four and a half feet tall and around 150 pounds. They can be dark grey, brown or black, with ring patterns on their fur, giving them the name of a ringed seal.
The baby seals (pups) are usually grey and are born around 10 pounds.
I recommend looking up photos of them! They are adorable! :)
I have yet to see this seal myself, but I have been told that they are easier to find in the winter due to their dark color against the bright white snow. My university took part in a fundraiser walk to raise money to help protect these seals. I was happy and excited to take part in the fundraising efforts to help make it so then there are more resources for supporting the seals.
