Page 14 - World of Animals - Issue #28 Magazine

Harp seal

Going the distance

Harp seals migrate with the seasons and steer by the stars

The harp seal is one of 19 species of ‘true seal’. This marine receding ice pack. Harp seals’ main territory is the open ocean,
mammal belongs to a group of animals known as pinnipeds with little in the way of landmarks, so how they manage to pick

(meaning fin-footed) and is the most abundant seal species in out their routes with such accuracy baffled scientists for a long

the Northern Hemisphere. The Latin name for the harp seal, time. It is now accepted that seals use their large bulging eyes to
Pagophilus groenlandicus, means ‘ice-lover from Greenland’, a nod gaze at the stars for orientation, much like sailors of the past.
to their icy habitat and northerly range. Harp seals meet in their tens and thousands for the breeding
Harp seals are strong swimmers, and although they are mostly season, which lasts just two months (February and March). This is
depicted on the ice, they actually spend most of their time in the the only time of year where they congregate with their own kind,
water. Their powerful flippers are able to propel them forwards on the thick ice of the south. The rest of the year is spent alone,

with graceful, coordinated strokes. When on land, however, cruising the oceans in search of their next meal. In the relentless,
these furry mammals are somewhat less agile, using their clawed churning slush of the Arctic seas, a harp seal’s diet is anything but
flippers in a cumbersome manner to drag themselves along the regular. They must take advantage when opportunity arises and

ice. The seals migrate great distances covering between 4,000 eat what is available. A plethora of fish – cod, herring, plaice and
to 5,000 kilometres (2,485 to 3,106 miles), one of the largest halibut – and crustaceans are all on the menu.
migrations recorded, in terms of distance. Once the ice packs of the south are behind them, they head Harp seals are
The seals move like ghostly apparitions through the chilly north, en route to their summer feeding ground in the Arctic. able to stay
waters in response to their changing environment. Like most Once summer is over in around late September, they start their underwater for

animals, their primary concern is finding food. They are excellent southward journey again, arriving back at the southern pack ice several minutes
by lowering their
navigators and take the same routes each year, following the by early winter, ready to start the cycle all over again. heart rate

“Their powerful fl ippers are
able to propel them forwards
Most of our knowledge of sea
with graceful, coordinated strokes”
turtles comes from egg-laying
females and their hatchlings
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