This very cute ginger seal pup is being called “the ugly duckling” by the scientists that spotted it at Tyuleny Island. Because of the lack of pigmentation in his body, this albino northern fur seal pup appears an orangish color.
The animal kingdom has its fair share of albinism cases like this one. It’s often challenging for albino animals to make it in the wild. Many times their eyesight is poor making them easy prey to predators or poachers looking for exotic animals. Also, they are not exactly on top of the eligible bachelor’s pool. (1)
The Northern Fur Seal (Callorhinus Ursinus)
The adorable looking Northern fur seals became popular after their description was included in the report of the Vitus Bering’s 1742 expedition by George Wilhelm Steller. Following their discovery in that report, they started to be hunted for their pelts to be made into clothing. (2)
The northern fur seal struggled to survive during the 19th and 20th centuries due to the aggressive hunting. However, thanks to the North Pacific Fur Seal Convention of 1911 joined by the US, Japan, Russia, and the UK (for Canada) that prohibited their hunting at sea and restrained the inland killing of immature males, their numbers increased. (3)
The Seal Island
The northern fur seal lives in the north part of the Pacific Ocean that includes the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, to the southern tip of Japan and southern California.
Tyuleny (that means seal in Russian) Island on the Okhotsk Russian sea holds anywhere from 55,000 to 65,000 northern fur seals and is one of their breeding playgrounds.
The breeding season is at its peak for these furry lovers around the end of June to the end of July. By November they all get in the water and start heading south. (4)
The Ginger Seal Pup’s Future
His pink flippers and light blue eyes did not win him any popularity points among his darker colored buddies. The marine mammal biologist Vladimir Burkanov is concerned that the fur seal community will not embrace him.
Through his observations, he concluded that the ginger seal pup is being overlooked by the others, but at least he is not being attacked. Dr. Burkanov believes that the pup is well-fed as he is very active, but it also seems that his eyesight is poor, so it will probably be difficult for him in terms of mating.
The team of scientists is attentive to any changes in the group behavior towards the ginger seal pup in case they need to intervene and take him to a safer place where he can develop further.
This is not the first case of an albino northern fur seal. They spotted one in 2011 at the same site (Tyuleniy Island). They called that one Nafanya and researchers took it to the Sochi Dolphinarium on the Black Sea.
Let’s hope to see this albino pup overcome life challenges within its northern seal community. Researchers are watching it closely, ready to bring a helping hand if needed. Go ugly duckling go!
