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The Saimaa ringed seal
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Valuable work
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All in all, the volunteers do very valuable work for the conservation of the Saimaa ringed seal.
The reason why the new pups and their mothers are counted on the basis of the lairs found is that both the mother seals and pups are very hard to observe on the lake in winter, when visibility is often not good. The volunteers are also asked to collect samples of the seal pups' natal hair for analysis. It is tested for heavy metal content, for instance, and DNA samples are taken for future examination. The volunteers report all their observations in detail to the experts of the Forest and Park Service.
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All in all, the volunteers do very valuable work for the conservation of the Saimaa ringed seal. They are not paid for their help, only their travelling expenses are reimbursed. They sign an agreement with the Forest and Park Service which includes insurance cover for the volunteers themselves during their journeys in search of lairs. The Service also lends the volunteers buoyant survival suits, which are essential apparel since they will be moving over the lake in spring, when the ice can be dangerously unpredictable and weak.
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