Zoologists Hope for Frost to Save Seals

On 4 February, specialists from the foundation reported on their Telegram channel that the ice situation, although changeable, is generally significantly better compared to previous winters.

«The day before yesterday we were already rejoicing that solid ice had formed in the Gulf of Finland west of Helsinki, and Lake Ladoga was also almost completely freezing over. But yesterday the ice was pulled apart considerably, and its area decreased,» note the founders of the foundation.

Zoologists have gained hope that for the first time in several years, Baltic and Ladoga seals will have enough stable ice during the breeding season. This is important so that the ice cover does not melt and break up prematurely, allowing the majority of pups to survive.

«Of course, at sea everything can change very quickly at any time. But we really want our favorites to get a breather and be able to replenish their thinning ranks with new babies without human help. So we ask the frosts not to leave and to continue freezing the ice for as long as possible,» emphasize the experts.

On 2 February, St. Petersburg«s chief weather forecaster Alexander Kolesov showed that the waters of large bodies of water in the region are actively freezing, leaving very little open water.

Residents of the city are also happy about the established ice, actively walking on rivers and canals. At the same time, on 3 February, the Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) reminded about the ban on going onto the ice of the Neva River, its tributaries and other urban waterways due to the uneven and potentially dangerous ice cover.