National Geographic Kids - USA (2021-12)

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Harp seals stay white through-

out their lives.

ALSE: The babies, called pups, look

like this for only about two weeks

before they grow a new gray fur coat.

A pup stays with Mom for life.

FALSE: At two weeks old a pup is on its

own. Mom leaves it to fend for itself.

With a whiff, Mom can find her

baby among hundreds of others.

TRUE: She memorizes her newborn’s

unique smell. Later, when she returns

from sea to feed her baby, she can tell

which is hers with a sniff.

Harp seals are endangered.

FALSE: The harp seal population is

healthy at around eight million. But

climate change and warmer seas threat-

en crucial pack ice habitat.

A harp seal can hold its breath

for 20 minutes at a time.

TRUE: It can also dive 800 feet as it

hunts for fish.

INGO ARNDT / MINDEN PICTURES

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HARP SEAL