Name: Seals

Description: -

Reason for being endangered: Natural predators of seals include large sharks, especially the great white shark, the Orcas, or killer whale, and other seals such as the leopard seal. Polar bears kill seals on land and ice in the Arctic. There are even reports of eagle attacks on baby Caspian seals. Perhaps the greatest menace to seals are humans, who have long hunted seals for food and seal skins, used for clothing and even housing and small boats. Commercial sealing developed into a profitable business in Europe and colonial America by the 1700s. Like whales, seals were hunted for their blubber, which was converted to oil for fuel, lubrication, and tanning. Fur seals were especially valued for their luxuriant pelts. Today seals are still killed for their skins in some countries, such as Canada and Russia.

Where you can find them: -