Bear Seal

Appearance and Behavior

The bear seal is the largest seal found on Erziyye. Making its home in the frigid waters around the southern pole, it is one of the world's most formidable hunters. The largest individuals measure up to 5 meters in length, with mature adults rarely measuring below 4 meters. It is quite bulky and has two very small, rounded ears that slightly resemble the land mammal with which they share a name. Their coloration is generally grey with tones of brown, and a distinctive speckled pattern of brown and dark grey spots going down the length of the sides. The face is darker and the belly lighter, and most individuals have a ridge of darker fur going down from the crown of its head to the root of its tail fin like a stripe. 
The bear seal is a highly skilled hunter, and its massive bulk of muscle and blubber belies its great speed in the water. Its diet consists mainly of fish, complemented by aquatic birds and the young of other seal species in the region, though the pups also eat krill. They appear to have no fear of humans and treat them as they would any prey if they fall into the water. They are quite aggressive and have been known to attack people on rafts and canoes, whether single individuals or groups. 

Cultural Significance

The bear seal holds a great deal of cultural significance to the people living in the region where it is most common. Hunting them is generally forbidden except when a new leader is chosen for a community. On these occasions, one or a few specimen are usually killed, their hide and teeth turned into ceremonial robes for the leader and the meet consumed at the inauguration ceremony.  Some old stories say that the bear seals are decedents of regular bears, who took to the waters in search of more bountiful prey.