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Saimaa SealsHere's a program from our archives.music; ambience: Saimaa seal breathingThat heavy breathing is coming from a Saimaa seal. These marine mammals are unlike any other in the world, and right now is the season when their seal pups are being born. I'm Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.Most seals are confined to saltwater oceans, but tucked away in one of the coldest corners of the globe, there exists two little-known freshwater species. One is the Ladoga in Russia, the other is the Saimaa seal, occupying the intertwined rivers and lakes of the region in Finland that shares its name.Today, walking along the shore of one of those lakes, you might come across an innocuous pile of snow on top of the frozen water. Inside that mound, a mother Saimaa seal lies huddled with her newborn pup. The only entrance is from the water below, and the temperature inside the igloo-like nest stays constant at just above freezing, keeping the new family somewhat cozy.Well, that young pup has a tough time ahead of it, though. There are only about 200 of the species left in existence. In the past, the seals' main enemies were the nets of local fishermen, in which baby Saimaas could easily become entangled. But recently, net fishing's been banned from the seal's habitat, and a project's been undertaken to attempt to double the seals' population in the next thirty years. Activists are urging the Saimaa people to recognize the seal as a symbol of their identity and a unique source of pride for their homeland. Lassi Karivalo, a devout conservationist often called "the Seal Man," has put the issue succinctly: "The whole Saimaa region," he says, "will be nothing without the seal."We've been listening to a program from our archives. If you want to hear more, check out our podcast. I'm Jim Metzner.