The+Saimaa+Ringed+Seal+2

=Saimaa ringed seal =

====The Saimaa ringed seal is a ringed seal, which is adapted to live in the lake Saimaa. Because the earth rose 8000 years ago after the last ice age, the seal was left stranded in Central Finland. The seal is the most endangered one of their species.====

The Saimaa ringed seal is known for its light ringed pattern. The colour of the seals fur is usually grey, but there have been sightings of almost black
====specimen. The hight of the animal ranges from 30–145 cm and weight from 50–90 kg. The ringed seal pups colouring is ash grey. The weight of the Saimaa ringed seals brain is also the biggest in relation to its body weight compared to other ringed seals.====



====The Saimaa ringed seal is completely adapted to fresh water. It spends 60-80% of its life under water. It can spend even 20 minutes at a time under water and it even sleeps in the depths of the water. In spring when the seals shed they fast on the beach. The lifespan of a Saimaa ringed seal is approximately 20 years. Their nutrition consists of fish.====

====The most significant threat to the Saimaa ringed seal is man. In a result of fishing many of the seals perish. Other reasons for the decrease in the seal population are illnesses and climate change. Nowadays the seal is protected by many laws issued by the EU and Finland. ====

Milla, Minttu, Ronja and Adina

Sources: Hyvärinen; Kunnasranta; Nieminen; Taskinen: //Hyle – Saimaan oma norppa//. Helsinki: Tammi, 2004. [|ISBN 951-31-3070-3].

Minttu, Milla, Ronja, Adina