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Baby seals are loved for being cute, but did you know they can hold their breath for up to two hours? Or that they use their stored blubber to get through without a fresh meal?
Come by and check out these photos and interesting facts about baby seals.
#1: Seal Babies Are Called Pups!
A baby seal is called a pup! The life of seals is generally divided into four distinct cycles. Seal babies are called puppies and are considered puppies from birth until weaned around 1 year of age.
The next stage of their life is the young seal age. The young seal now has to learn to swim and catch food on its own to survive. Many young seals lose about half their body weight while learning how to hunt for themselves.
The next stage is the adolescent seal stage. At this stage, the seal has learned how to catch its food and how to swim. So all you have to do is pack the pounds back in to get through the cold, harsh winter.
The final stage of the cycle is the adult seal. Seals are considered adults at the age of 6 and live to be about 30 years old depending on whether they are male or female.
Seals share the name “pup” with many other animals, such as dogs, sloths, beavers, and bats.
#2: Seal pups have a special conversation with their mother
Seal babies have a special bond with their mothers. When a seal pup calls for its mother, not only does she quickly come to the rescue, but she can also see that the crying baby is hers.
Researchers noted that seal mothers can recognize their pups and distinguish their howls from other pups. In addition, the mothers continued to recognize their babies’ calls for up to five years after separation. Talk about an unbreakable bond!
#3: Seals learn to become professional swimmers
When baby seals are born, they can hardly swim and are completely dependent on mother’s milk for nutrition. By the time they reach adulthood, they are experienced swimmers as they spend months at a time at sea.
Seal pups are so comfortable in the water that they can even sleep in it! However, their naps are short, because they only have their breath about two hours under water.
#4: Seal pups have extremely protective fat
Seal babies gain weight from the moment they are born. This is because once a seal pup is weaned, the mother will mate again. Consequently, the seal babies are left to their own devices.
However, the little mammals are not completely helpless. From an early age, the babies pack on a thick layer of fat called blubber. There is no doubt that food can be scarce for young seals, especially when they are learning to hunt. Fortunately, the blubber is a source of energy and calories for the growing puppies when food is not available. .
#5: Baby seals are hunted for their fur
for many years, seals have been hunted by humans for their fur and for the many uses their blubber contains. Most baby seals are born with yellow fur. Their first is yellow because of the amniotic fluid they were surrounded in during their 11 month gestation period.
After a day or two of the earthy side, their coat loses its yellow hue and reveals a bright white coat. This is where seal pups get their nickname, white coats. Whitecoat hunting has been specifically banned in Canada since 1987, but this ban only applies to whitecoats, not the other seal pups living there.
#6: Baby seals can grow to be the size of a car
Seal babies quickly pack on the pounds as their mother’s milk is five to six times richer in nutrients than a mother’s cow milk. There are over 30 species of seals, most of which are quite large.
There are some exceptions, however, such as the Galapagos fur seal, which grows to only 3 feet tall and weighs about 65 pounds. The largest species of seal is the southern elephant seal and this seal can grow up to 6 feet long and weigh up to 8,800 pounds, which is twice the weight of your typical sedan!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much do baby seals weigh?
Seal babies weigh an average of 20 pounds at first birth and they pack about 4 to 6 pounds a day. Seals need all this weight to keep themselves warm in the cold climates they live in and also to have fat reserves when food is scarce.
What do seal babies eat?
Seal babies are mammals, meaning they suckle their mother’s milk. A seal’s diet as they grow consists mainly of fish, including octopus, squid, herring, cod, and many more.
Where do seal babies live?
Seal babies are born and for the most part raised on ice. Their mothers sometimes take them into the water to nurse them. However, some babies are not strong enough and have to endure it. As they get older, they begin to enter the water on their own as they le
ar
n to swim.
What are seal babies called?
A baby seal is called a pup. They also share their baby name with many other animals such as sharks, rats and even lemurs!
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