Saimaa seal gets rare twins

In a heartwarming development for Finland's endangered Saimaa ringed seal population, a mother seal named Hilima has achieved a rare feat by giving birth to twins. This extraordinary event, observed in the Pihlajavesi area of Lake Saimaa, offers a glimmer of hope for the species' conservation efforts.

Twin births are exceptionally rare among Saimaa ringed seals, with only five such cases documented previously. Typically, the demanding task of raising two pups proves too much for the mother, often resulting in the early death of one or both offspring. However, initial observations suggest that Hilima's two pups have a good chance of surviving to weaning, a testament to her dedicated care.

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In these cases, at least one of the twins often died at a very early stage. In most cases, both did not survive until weaning.

Despite this positive news, the Saimaa ringed seal population still faces significant threats. Conservation experts highlight the dangers posed by fishing nets, which claimed the lives of 11 seals last year, and the challenges presented by insufficient snow cover for natural denning. The use of artificial snowdrifts and man-made dens has become crucial for successful breeding. The survival of these twin pups will be closely watched as a symbol of resilience for this unique Finnish subspecies.

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The young individuals have weaker chances of survival than adult Saimaa seals. Young pups are threatened by, for example, fishing nets.