A harp seal pup (Pagophilus groenlandicus) near Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, Canada peers through the looking for its mother. as dusk sets on the sea ice. Harp seal pups are born on the ice covered Gulf of St. Lawrence in late February and nursed for 12-15 days before they are abandoned by their mother when she departs to mate and migrate. The quality and quantity of sea ice covering the gulf has been highly variable in recent years. This image was made during a season of reduced ice cover that resulted in early ice break up and high pup mortality in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Photographer: Jennifer Hayes
harp seal pups (pagophilus groenlandicus) on greatly diminished ice pack in the gulf of st lawrence.
Photographer: David Doubilet