© Shutterstock/Danita Delimont
Seals
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.
Threats
© Antonio Busiello / WWF-US
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 lead to high pup mortality.
How WWf is taking action to protect seals
© Kevin Schafer / WWF-Canon
WWF works with agencies and coastal communities to ensure that harbor seals and other marine mammals are sustainably managed.
How you can help
© George Walsh
Strengthen the Endangered Species Act
More than 99% of the species listed under the Endangered Species Act have avoided extinction due to the law’s protections. Today, those protections are under threat — at the exact moment wildlife needs them most.