Harp Seal

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The young animal did not survive its journey, but provided an astonishing case study for biologists.

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Ziggy Star was found stranded off the coast of California with a debilitating brain disease. Now, she’s back in the water.

Follow Video Baby Animals Hit The Water Life is blooming at the beach as a baby seal and some Australian green sea turtles begin life on the sand.

News Seal's Playful Leap Nearly Knocks Over Kayaker

Seal-watching tours let people interact with these naturally curious animals, but experts warn this could endanger both people and seals.

Follow Video A Seal Mating With A Penguin? This behaviour between a young male seal trying to mate with a penguin is very strange and has only been recorded in the past year. Zoologists try to understand this behaviour.

News Demand For Seal Products Has Fallen—So Why Do Canadians Keep Hunting?

The seal business isn’t booming any longer, but the Great White North is reluctant to give up the controversial pursuit.

News See Award-Winning Underwater Photos From Around the World

These 13 photos were among those recognized by the Underwater Photographer of the Year contest, which showcases the best in underwater photography.

News Man Arrested for Punching a Seal

In this week’s crime blotter: a seal attack caught on video, a huge illegal logging bust, and an animal skull smuggling incident.

About Harp Seal

Harp seals spend relatively little time on land and prefer to swim in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. These sleek swimmers cruise the chilly waters and feed on fish and crustaceans. They can remain submerged for up to 15 minutes. Harp seals are sometimes called saddleback seals because of the dark, saddlelike marking on the back and sides of their light yellow or grey bodies.

Both sexes return each year to breeding grounds in Newfoundland, the Greenland Sea, and the White Sea. On this turf males fight for their mates, battling with sharp teeth and powerful flippers.

Fast Facts

Common Name: Harp Seal

Scientific Name: Pagophilus groenlandicus

Type: Mammals

Diet: Carnivores

Group Name: Colony, rookery

Average life span in the wild: 20 years

Size: 5.25 to 6.25 ft

Weight: 400 lbs

Harp Seal

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