The Arctic Seal Who Is Afraid Of Ice

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First there was Cinders, a pig, with a mud phobia, and now an Arctic Seal who hates ice, and keeps trying to escape to the warm waters of the Mediterranean.

Sahara, a Hooded Seal, first made headlines in April, 2007, when the then nine-month old pup washed up in the Canary Islands, near Northern Africa. The pup was overweight and had lost all its hair, something he would need to survive in the cold Arctic. He was flown to the Cornwall Seal Sanctuary in London where he was placed on a strict diet and nursed back to health. Fortunately his hair grew back and he was ready to go.

Fitted with an electronic device to track his progress, Sahara was released around the Orkney Islands near Scotland. However, instead of heading 1,000 miles to the north towards Greenland, Sahara turned again and swam 1,000 miles south, this time to the warm waters around the coast of Spain.

He has been rescued once again and sent back to the Cornwall Seal Sanctuary, where he now lives.

The scientists here are are now trying to get him used to what should be his natural environment - Sheets of Ice.

Every day, the staff at the sanctuary shovels in half ton of ice around Sahara's pool.

Initially, Sahara would avoid the ice and stay at the opposite end of the pool. However, the staff persevered, luring Sahara to the ice by bribing him with fish.

As days go by, Sahara seems more relaxed and is actually starting to enjoy the ice. Sometimes, he even gets brave enough to rub his face into it, and on good days even crunches some.

The chances of Sahara ever leaving the sanctuary are slim. He is not eating well and has been prone to a lot of infections.

But, if over the years he does get better, he may even return to his real home - in the cold Arctic region.

Hooded Seals normally live on ice packs in the coldest regions of North America. The male seals get their name from a kind of hood that inflates like a balloon from their forehead to the mouth whenever they are excited or threatened. Hooded Seals are loners, meeting with other seals only during short mating seasons. They feed on deep sea dwellers like rockfish and herring, and can live up to thirty years in the wild.

Sources: Koaa.com, DailyMail.co.uk, BBC News.com

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50 Comments
  • PARISabout 11 years
    WOW! THAT IS SOOOOOOOOO ADORABLE
    • kke
      kkeabout 11 years
      cute how is it afraid of ice
      • bubbles323
        bubbles323over 11 years
        cute but very sad and Jack how is that funny
        • jrfresh
          jrfreshover 11 years
          that's somewhat funny, but its definetly cute
          • hahaover 11 years
            that sad but its so cute
            • lady gogoover 11 years
              this is so cute and so sad
              • jasmine15000
                jasmine15000almost 12 years
                i love unique animals
                • khensley
                  khensleyabout 12 years
                  thats 1 odd seal!!!!!!!!!!
                  • kayleeover 12 years
                    thats sad it doesnt like ice and its an arctic seal
                    • current event projectabout 13 years
                      Ava, i think that it is awesome not boring. I am doing my project on this