Scientists have discovered a "special" new species of seals in the Arctic

Exploring the natural wonders of the Arctic can be challenging, but it often leads to amazing discoveries. In a recent study conducted by Greenlandic and Danish scientists, a new species of ringed seal was described in the Aisfjord near Ilulissat (West Greenland). This unique natural area, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to a special species of ringed seal, known as Kangia seal. Differing in size, appearance and genetic composition, this seal has been genetically isolated from its Arctic relatives for over 100,000 years.

Kangia seal differs from the usual Arctic ringed seals in size and fur color. Much larger and with more distinctive patterns, this unique seal attracts the attention of both researchers and locals. Akkalu Rosing-Aswid, senior researcher at the Greenland Institute of Nature Pinngortitaleriffik, explains:

"We were able to count the seals from the plane and estimated that there are only about 3,000 of them."

Unlike the common Arctic ringed seal, which travels great distances in search of food, the Kangian seal prefers to stay within the Icefjord. This behavior is very unusual, given the huge size of the Arctic brethren population. The researchers found that this small permanent population had been isolated for thousands of years, which led to the formation of its special genetic profile.

To understand the origin of the genetic isolation and unique biological characteristics of the Kangia seal, the researchers took tissue samples from captured seals. These samples were subjected to genetic analysis to reveal the DNA profile of the seals. The results confirmed that Kangia ringed seals are genetically different from their Arctic counterparts. However, the exact reasons for this isolation and genetic divergence remain a mystery.

This groundbreaking study highlights the vast amount of unknown facts regarding the diversity of organisms in the Arctic. As climate change and human activities continue to affect this fragile ecosystem, understanding the adaptability and resilience of Arctic species is becoming crucial. The discovery of the Kangia seal makes us think about the existence of similar unique seals in other Arctic fjords, which have yet to be studied and understood.