looduskalender.ee

Photo from the ringed seal census expedition this spring in Väinameri

 

It is difficult to believe that it truly is as it has seemed for some time now – the ringed seals have abandoned the Estonian beaches in the Gulf of Finland and ”visit” here only very rarely these days. Our attempts to find them around the Vaindloo and Uhtju islands were unsuccessful. No matter that the weather was more than favourable for such activities and other pinnipeds – grey seals – were lying about in large numbers in the sun in the former ringed seal waters.

 

Actually this retreat has lasted already for several human generations, but out of a mixture of memories and hope we still tried to find these shy ”furred fish”. We didn’t. Nothing more to be done than to soothe the bruises of disappointment and next week head for Russia, to the refuge of ringed seals at the Kurgal cape – there this fabled animal should still be seen at times.