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Photographer Spent 3 Years Trying To Get His First Shot Of Seals On Ice, Until He Met This Pup…
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Photographer Spent 3 Years Trying To Get His First Shot Of Seals On Ice, Until He Met This Pup…

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Alexey Trofimov spent 3 years trying to get his first shoot of seals on the ice, as these cute animals are really shy, cautious, and difficult to photograph. “If a seal pup is not too scared, they will begin to become curious about you and this is what this seal was doing,” Trofimov told Caters News. When the photographer finally managed to get closer to the baby seal near Lake Baikal in Russia, “It was a very rare and special moment.”

While the furry seal baby is the definition of cute, the way they are treated by humans is something of a horror story. For instance, each year in Canada, hudreds of thousands of baby seals are shot or bludgeoned to death. Hunters use metal-hook-tipped clubs and boat hooks to drag half-conscious seals across the ice. Sealers then leave the dying animals to rot on the ice floes, because they can’t make money off seal meal.

More info: Photograph Alexey Trofimov | Facebook  (h/t: catersnews)

Alexy Trofimov spent 3 years trying to get his first shot of seals on the ice

Image credits: Alexey Trofimov/Caters News

When the photographer finally managed to get that close to the baby seal, “It was a very rare and special moment”

Image credits: Alexey Trofimov/Caters News

These cute animals are really shy, cautious, and difficult to photograph

Image credits: Alexey Trofimov/Caters News

“If a seal pup is not too scared, they will begin to become curious about you and this is what this seal was doing”

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Image credits: Alexey Trofimov/Caters News

He captured the baby seal when on trip to Lake Baikal: “For the seals, I came on foot”

Image credits: Alexey Trofimov/Caters News

“The photos were taken from different distances, I managed to get fairly close to the pups”

Image credits: Alexey Trofimov/Caters News

“It was particularly difficult to shoot Baikal seal pup on the ice”

Image credits: Alexey Trofimov/Caters News

Trofimov says that his task is “to show not only the beauty, but also the fragility of the world around us”

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Image credits: Alexey Trofimov/Caters News

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sonik_t avatar
Benny Lava
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As adorable as these pics are, I can not stop myself from thinking what some people are willing to do to these wonderful creatures in order to earn money. Not to feed themselves but to earn a paycheck. These people live near us, near our children... Sometimes I really don't want to belong to the human race.

sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They sure are cute, but I would like the people who went there for good pics that pleeeease do not post where you at. Do you know how many hunters find out where you at then the next you know they all got killed because of your "cute pics" So pls stop post where's the location!!!!

julie-moularde avatar
Julie Julie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"near Lake Baikal in Russia" is not exactly disclosing a specific location... Everyone interested in seal hunting over there will know there are seals in the area. Lake Baikal is over 600km long so that particular seal is not in more danger from the photos. It's good to know where photos were taken because people can learn that nature is beautiful and amazing everywhere and discover new places.

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crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is sad that with beauty and fascination almost always concerns are combined. Think of whale hinting, think of poaching in Africa. Despite every sane person admitting it is wrong, it will not stop. Nonetheless, the photos here are incredibly adorable!

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sonik_t avatar
Benny Lava
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As adorable as these pics are, I can not stop myself from thinking what some people are willing to do to these wonderful creatures in order to earn money. Not to feed themselves but to earn a paycheck. These people live near us, near our children... Sometimes I really don't want to belong to the human race.

sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They sure are cute, but I would like the people who went there for good pics that pleeeease do not post where you at. Do you know how many hunters find out where you at then the next you know they all got killed because of your "cute pics" So pls stop post where's the location!!!!

julie-moularde avatar
Julie Julie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"near Lake Baikal in Russia" is not exactly disclosing a specific location... Everyone interested in seal hunting over there will know there are seals in the area. Lake Baikal is over 600km long so that particular seal is not in more danger from the photos. It's good to know where photos were taken because people can learn that nature is beautiful and amazing everywhere and discover new places.

Load More Replies...
crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is sad that with beauty and fascination almost always concerns are combined. Think of whale hinting, think of poaching in Africa. Despite every sane person admitting it is wrong, it will not stop. Nonetheless, the photos here are incredibly adorable!

Load More Comments
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