Scientific name:
Pagophilus groenlandicus

Natural spread:
arctic regions

the dog-seal, that has to suffer the most from the barbaric seal-brawl, is the saddle-seal of the North-Atlantic. Whitens because of the sought-after one, young are killed soft infant-fur again and again in cruel way with sticks and partially with still alive body abgehäutet. Against the seal-butcher shop, above all before the Canadian coast (Newfoundland is the continuances on this occasion), animal-protectors, all in front Bernhard Grzimek, protested again and again in the last years.

Spread Saddle-seals live in two strictly of each other separate populations: 1. The west-population with the "golf-herd" in the St.-Lorenz-Strom and the "front-herd" around Newfoundland and Labrador. 2. The East-population with the "Greenland-herd" from the icefields north from the island Jan Mayen and the "East-herd" of the icefields of the white sea. In physique and coloring, the two groups don't differ, however was proved that neither it itself in the open sea, nor on the throw-places meets or even mixes.

Shape Saddle-seals possess a gray one until sallow fur with silver-gray underside and saddle-shaped, dark drawing of backs and flank. The bulls gain a length of 2,20 m and a weight of 180 kg. As excellent swimmers, they have an extraordinarily slim shape at their disposal. Saddle-seals live in small stoves of up to 10 individuals. Between the individual members of a troop, an astonishing uniformity prevails with all movements in the water. During its long hikes, they usually are near the Treibeises.

Reproduction In February, the females populate the throw and combination-places in company of the not yet reproductive-capable boys. Finally, also the old males appear. In February / March, the boys come to the world, that 12-14 days with the very high-fat milk will suckle. The adulten animals are combined during the time of the Jungenaufzucht, and beginning of May, the whole troop of the saddle-seals leaves the throw-areas again, about on wide hikes of its loot, codfishes, herrings and Lodden, to follow.

Endangering The saddle-seal still admittedly is very numerous, however the continuances can get in danger through the seal-brawl.