Here's a cute animal you should know about: the banded seal. It is the most elusive ice seal, relatively solitary and rarely observed on land. They were born with a thick white coat, but eventually developed the unique black and white ribbon pattern they are familiar with. They also play dead when captured until they are able to escape. And, obviously, they're pretty cute – just look at them!
The banded seal (Histriophoca fasciata) is a species of seal that lives in the waters surrounding Antarctica and nearby islands. They are one of the smallest seals, measuring about 1.2 meters in length and weighing about 45 kilograms.
Banded seals usually live in shallow water areas between glaciers and ice and feed on fish and crustaceans. Their fur is gray or brown with black markings and stripes, which is why they got their name.
The number of banded seals is currently unknown, but they are protected in the Antarctic region and only a few are hunted by humans. Their hunting and habitat loss are major threats to their populations. Therefore, in order to protect this endangered species, a series of conservation measures have been implemented internationally, including banning commercial hunting and measures to reduce human interference.
