The Baikal Seal

The Baikal Seal

April 2018 – present

The Baikal seal is an endemic species, the only mammal of the Baikal and an indicator of its ecosystem’s stability. In the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the species had status Lower Risk/ Near Threatened from 1996 to 2008, since 2008 – Least Concern (the INCN Red List, 2018). The Red Book of the Russian Federation does not assign a conservation status to the Baikal seal, it is commercial species (The Red Book of the Russian Federation, 2020).

The current state of the population is understudied – we lack data about population dynamics, agestructure, season migration and impact factors. There was no evaluation of the population’s well-being since the anthropogenicimpact on the seal’s habitat has increased. Simultaneously the news about poaching and abuse of animalswith a highlevel of emotional intellect requires urgent measures in scientific and educational fields.

Lake Baikal Foundation holds activities to resolve the problems listed above.

Goal:

  • to shape responsible and careful attitude to the Baikal seal on the part of the scientific community, environmental organizations, local population of the Baikal region and people all over Russia.

Targets:

  • to obtain missing scientific data about the current state of the Baikal seal population with non-invasive and minimally invasive, humane methods;
  • to work out strategies to improve the state of the endemic population in cooperation with the partners on the scientific program based on data obtained by them;
  • to send the expertise and recommendations based on the results of the research to environmental regulatory bodies and other institutions which work in the environmental field;
  • to hold educational activities for schoolchildren to shape careful attitude to the Baikal seal;
  • to inform a wide audience about the results of scientific research on the Baikal seal, launching a special project in regional and national media, which also includes the educational part.

What has been done in 2018:

  • Lake Baikal Foundation initiated a comprehensive program on the research of the Baikal seal and its habitat. Together with A.N. Severtsov Institute for Ecology and Evolution of RAS (IEE RAS) the Foundation organized a round table discussion «Current Threats to the Baikal Seal» with the participation of marine mammals experts. The participants discussed the reasons and the consequences of threats to the endemic population and the Baikal ecosystem as a whole, as well as measures for its protection. By the end of the discussion, they decided to work out a comprehensive program under the aegis of Lake Baikal Foundation to find innovative approaches to counting and studying the Baikal seal and to send expert recommendations about preservation of the population to relevant regulatory bodies and the public;
  • Lake Baikal Foundation has supported the development of a comprehensive scientific program on the research of the Baikal seal and its habitat together with A.N. Severtsov Institute for Ecology and Evolution of RAS. In the framework of the program initiated by the Foundation, the scientists described new affordable methods of studying the Baikal seal and its habitat. The scientific program also includes recommendations on the preservation and well-being of the endemic species considering the increasing anthropogenic impact on lake Baikal. Due to the support of Lake Baikal Foundation, the topic of the Baikal seal preservation and the scientific program got in the Agenda of the 10th International Scientific Сonference «Marine mammals of the Holarctic» which took place in Arkhangelsk October 29 – November 2, 2018. In the aftermath of the Conference, the scientific program was sent to the leading Russian and foreign research institutions on sea mammals, governmental bodies, SPNAs of the Baikal region. Among such organizations are: Limnological Institute of SB RAS, The Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography,  The Baikal Nature Interregional Prosecutor’s Office, Association of natural protected areas «Zapovednoe Pribaikalye», Association of natural protected areas «Zapovednoe Podlemorye».

What has been done in 2019:

The Foundation has carried out a unique set of activities aimed at studying the Baikal seal and preserving the well-being of its population. Read more on the page of «The Baikal Seal Year» project.

What has been done in 2020:

  • the results of the study of the migration routes of the tagged seals were obtained. They demonstrate that the Baikal seals actively and widespread use the entire water area of the lake;
  • the results of toxicological studies were obtained. They show the presence in the blood of the investigated Baikal seals of a complete list of both investigated organochlorine pesticides, including those in the list of the Stockholm Convention, and investigated heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, zinc) and arsenic, presumably found in the body through the diet of seals;
  • the results of virological studies were obtained. They reveal the genetic material of the influenza type A virus in the nasal smear from three animals, though the presence of other viruses from the investigation list was not detected; in 35% of the captured seals, external signs of diseases of unknown etiology were found, as well as external injuries (presumably from fishing nets);
  • hormonal studies are being conducted to determine barrenness and other characteristics of seals, as well as serological studies to determine the presence of antibodies to the investigation pathogens in seals;
  • the Foundation has supported the second expedition to collect field data on the population of the Baikal seal, which took place from July 18 to August 22 on the Ushkany Islands. During the expedition, visual surveys of seals were carried out at the largest summer habitat of the population, including the photographic and video filming, morphological measurements were carried out, and wool and skin samples were taken both from the living animals and the found fallen ones. A total of 127 samples were collected for genetic and hormonal research. The data obtained will make it possible both to reveal the patterns of the spatial distribution of animals in the haulage and to assess the current state of the population in general;
  • with the support of the Foundation, IEE RAS scientists have developed and approved a comprehensive The Baikal Seal Research Program for 2020-2025, the goals of which are 1) to study the current state of the Baikal seal population as an endemic of the fauna of Lake Baikal and an indicator species of the state of Lake Baikal; and 2) to create a scientific bases for ensuring the effective conservation of the biodiversity of Lake Baikal;
  • a charitable fundraising campaign has been launched to conduct genetic research of the Baikal seal based on biomaterials collected during two expeditions. Genetic testing is expected in the first half of 2021.

What has been done in 2021:

  • we completed fundraising for genetic research. Thanks to the support of the population on fundraising platforms, the holding of a charity fair at the Wunderpark International School and the regular support of a corporate partner, a total of 1.5 million rubles was raised.
  • Lake Baikal Foundation and A.N. Severtsov Institute for Ecology and Evolution of RAS (IEE RAS) signed an agreement on genetic research of the biomaterial of the Baikal seal. The Lake Baikal Foundation transferred the necessary funds for its implementation – the grant fund of the project amounted to 1,092,574 rubles.

What has been done in 2022-2023:

  • In 2023, the Foundation, together with scientists, organised a round table to discuss the issue of artificial regulation of the Baikal seal population; based on the results of the discussions, the Foundation prepared a resolution and sent it to the authorities. Together we managed to protect the Baikal seal population from artificial population regulation and the introduction of industrial shooting. At present, there is no need, readiness or sufficient scientific data to introduce new mechanisms for artificial regulation of the Baikal seal population.
  • The project “Home of the Baikal seal: integrated research of seals on the key summer breeding ground – Ushkan Islands” won the grant programme of the Lake Baikal Foundation for the conservation of rare species of the Baikal natural area. You can read the results of the project at the link.
  • Launched an educational page with instructions on “What to do if you encounter a seal on land or ice?”.

What has been done in 2024:

  • The Foundation supported the fifth research expedition of the A.N. Severtsov Institute for Problems of Ecology and Evolution (IPEE RAS) to study the Baikal seal on the Ushkan Islands. The Foundation supported the fifth research expedition of the A.N. Severtsov Institute for Problems of Ecology and Evolution (IPEE RAS) to study Baikal seals on the Ushkan Islands. During the expedition the scientists monitored the number of seals on the islands of Tonky, Dolgiy and Krugly in the archipelago Ushkanyi Islands, analysed the impact of environmental factors and tourist activities on the behaviour of seals, and conducted hormonal studies of samples collected from dead individuals. More information about the results can be found here.
  • The Foundation made Russia’s first popular science film about the Baikal seal. You can find the teaser here.

Sustainability of the Program:

  • Based on the results of the research, the Foundation declares the need to pay special attention to preventing the Baikal seals from getting into the nets, to creating new protected areas to preserve the endemic, as well as the need to continue a comprehensive study of the well-being of the population. Therefore, in 2020-2025, the Foundation continues to study the Baikal seal under the approved Research Program;
  • in 2021, the Foundation plans to conduct genetic studies, as well as another expedition to tag seals in the northern part of Lake Baikal to identify migration routes and remote observation of the Baikal seal in the water area;
  • within the framework of The Baikal Seal Research Program for 2020-2025, the Foundation plans to test the method of non-invasive hydroacoustic registration of seals, which is supposed to have a higher accuracy in comparison with existing methods of registration. With successful results, this method will finally make it possible to carry out a reliable census of the population of the Baikal seal.

The overall budget of the Program is not strictly fixed and depends on the amount of funding received from donations from individuals and legal entities. You can read the Regulations on the Сharity Program via the link.

Photo: Alexey Svatov

Publications 2024

Scientists conducted a large-scale monitoring of the seal on the Ushkan Islands, First Baikalsky, 24.10.2024

“For us, the seal is an indicator of the state of the water body”, Scientific Russia, 01.02.2024

Publications 2023

6 rare animals you can look at in Baikal, Tinkoff Magazine, 30.08.2023

Scientists of the Russian Federation have opposed the reduction of the seal population in Baikal, TASS, 20.05.2023

Scientists opposed the reduction of the Baikal seal population, Kommersant, 22.05.2023

Publications 2022

The Lake Baikal Foundation has completed genetic research of the Baikal seal, for which donations were collected on the platform “Need Help”, Such Cases, 18.04.2022

Scientists have deciphered the DNA of the Baikal seal, Novoye Televidenie Sibiri, 08.04.2022

Scientists decoded DNA of Baikal seals to develop measures to protect the species, Irkutsk Media, 07.04.2022

Scientists decoded DNA of Baikal seal, AIST TV, 07.04.2022

DNA of the Baikal seal decoded to develop measures to protect the species, TASS, 06.04.2022

I study seals in Baikal, T-Zh, 25.02.2022

Publications 2021

How much does GreenTech cost in Russia?, VC.ru, 18.10.2021

Scientists have installed satellite sensors on Baikal seals to track their movements, IrkutsMedia.ru, IrkutsMedia.ru, 25.08.2021

Flying over a seal rookery, Such affairs, 09.07.2021

The Lake Baikal Foundation allocated one million rubles for genetic research of the Baikal seal, Such cases, 18.05.2021

Genetic scientists from Moscow will decipher the DNA of the Baikal seal, Interfax, 18.05.2021

To bring the seal home, Such affairs, 02.03.2021

Scientists have estimated the level of immunity and measured the concentration of hormones of the Baikal seal, IRA Teleinform, 05.02.2021

Scientists told about the results of the first hormonal analysis of Baikal seals, Irsity.ru, 04.02.2021

Publications 2020

How is the seal doing?, Such affairs, 22.12.2020

The programme for studying the Baikal seals was approved in the Irkutsk region and Buryatia, Komsomolskaya Pravda, 15.11.20

Very sad without seals, Such affairs, 20.10.2020

Scientists decided to learn more about the Baikal seals. How to help them in this?, National Geographic, 20.10.2020

In Russia for the first time will assess the state of the population of a species of seals living only in Lake Baikal, TASS. Science, 13.07.2020

Environmentalists opposed the destruction of Baikal seals, MIR24, 25.05.2020

Baikal seals will be tested for stress and carnivore plague, Oblastnaya Gazeta, 25.05.2020

Scientists will measure stress level in Baikal seals, IrkSib, 25.05.2020

Arsenic, mercury and pesticides found in the blood of Baikal seals, ARIGUS,20.03.2020

Publications 2019

Buryatia for the first time tags Baikal seals with radio beacons, Gazeta No.1, 26.07.2019

Russian biologists will tag Baikal seals using satellite radio beacons, Indicatot.ru, 07.07.2019

Baikal will study seals with the help of radio beacons, Izvestia, 21.06.2019

Baikal seals will be tracked by satellite, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, 21.06.2019

Baikal seals will be tagged with radio beacons for the first time, Sibir.Realii, 20.06.2019

Publications 2018

The fate of the Baikal seal was discussed in Arkhangelsk, Regnum, 08.11.18

The X international conference “Marine Mammals of the Holarctic” was held in Arkhangelsk, Glagol. Irkutsk Review, 08.11.18

In Arkhangelsk presented a programme for the study of the Baikal seal, Baikal Daily, 07.11.18

Scientists will help to save the Baikal seal, Regnum, 04.10.18

Scientists have started to create a scientific programme to study the Baikal seal, Irkutsk Media, 03.10.18

Scientists have started to create a programme to study the Baikal seal, Teleinform, 03.10.18

Scientists have started to create a scientific programme to study the Baikal seal, Irsity.ru, 03.10.18

Scientists study the Baikal seal, Baikal Daily, 02.10.18

Scientific programme on Baikal seal research intends to create the Lake Baikal Foundation and the Institute of Ecology Problems, Siberian News, 02.10.18

Baikal seal want to save from poachers, officials and businessmen, Regnum, 19.06.18,

The Lake Baikal Foundation will develop a programme to study and protect the seal, Irk.ru, 19.06.18, Irk.ru, 19.06.18.

Scientists have proposed to create a programme of accounting of the Baikal seal, Vostok Teleinform, 19.06.18, Vostok Teleinform, 19.06.18

The Lake Baikal Foundation launches a programme to study the seal, Teleinform, 19.06.18



Biodiversity Conservation