The unique life of Baikal seals in southern Siberia
A Baikal seal pup waiting for its mother to return.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Westend61/Getty Images
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News •
World's largest freshwater lake is recovering after decades of decline
• Nov. 14, 2026, 10:40 AM ET (Phys.org)
Transcript
The end of winter on Lake Baikal in southern Siberia - there are signs of life in the vast icy desert. Baikal seal - they are found nowhere else in the world. The females gave birth to young on the ice a few weeks ago. The youngster waits near a breathing hole in the ice for its mother to return. She only surfaces once or twice a day to suckle her young pup. The pup’s thick fur and layer of blubber protect it from the cold. If the young seal can survive the first year of its life, it may well grow to be 50 years old. The icy waters of the lake don’t seem to worry the pup. It won’t be long now before the young seal will be ready to explore the depths of the lake and the magical world below the ice.
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