I’m a Seal

I live in the icy cold waters of the Arctic Ocean while other seals live in the Antarctic Ocean. They are the coldest of all the oceans of the world.

Some seals live in the warm Pacific Ocean in California and Hawaii.

Seals love the water and usually swim on the surface of the ocean exposing their heads with their bodies submerged as they flap.

They are able to swim by moving their rear flippers back and forth.

Seals eat all kinds of sea life including fish, crustaceans, squid, octopus and sometimes even penguins.

Seals live in colonies that can support hundreds and some even thousands of seals.

There are over 30 species of seals in the world.

Although seals live in colonies they hunt for food on their own so they are considered solitary animals as well.

They huddle in groups in the ocean and on land sunbathing or seeking a mate and are very nurturing of their young.

On land seals flop on their bellies to move forward.

Female seals nurse their pups on land because their young need to develop their breathing and be fully nourished with milk.

Many species of seals live off their blubber when they nurse their young but some do need to seek to feed themselves in the ocean so they can be strong enough to feed their babies which means they have to leave their babies with the colony intending to come back.

Seals are very curious and quick learners.

They can be trained to balance a ball on their nose which is a fun activity that children love to see.

Children are so excited to see seals in the

Aquarium and love their whiskers and seeing them swim with their flippers and do tricks balancing a ball on their noses.

Seals are protected in the aquarium with their care providers, trainers and veterinary service staff and can live healthy lives provided the aquariums are properly equipped, maintained and staffed.

Most seals in the wild have a life expectancy of 25 to 35 years if they outgrow their youth.

It’s hard to see seals in their natural habitat in the ocean aside from scientists so visitors go to aquariums all around the world to get a glimpse into the lives of these remarkable animals.

Seals are portrayed in many movies portraying the Antarctic and with other types of animals similar such as sea lions, dolphins, walruses and penguins.

One popular movie is March of the Penguins, a documentary which features penguins in the Antarctic going on their long journey in search of food and all the other animals they meet along the way including seals.

If you see me swimming and flapping and making loud sounds in the ocean consider yourself lucky and try to hold on to that beautiful moment because I’m a seal.