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It would be hard to think of a cuter animal than the baby harp seal. The harp seals are born on the ice and drink milk from their mothers for about 12 days. The mother will then leave and never come back. The baby harp seal cannot swim until it is about 25 days old so it lays there on the ice, helpless. In order to conserve (or save) energy the seal will lay very still until it is finally old enough to swim.

Harp Seals

It seems cruel for a mother to leave her baby on the ice, but the mother seal will call attention to her baby if she stays and they will both surely be eaten by wandering polar bears or whales.

Simple Schooling "Let's Learn About" Bugs, Mammals, & Reptiles ©2011 J. Anne Huss

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