Emoji: Pusa hispida saimensis


How cute can one be? News! Despite stubborn belief, Polar bears do not walk on the streets of Helsinki. But what we do have an endangered species: the Saimaa ringed seal, ‘saimaannorppa’. They are among the most endangered seals in the world, having a total population of only about 320 individuals. The only existing population of these seals is found in Lake Saimaa, Finland (hence the name) and it is one of the only seals that live in freshwater. Saimaannorppa desperately needs snow and ice for the cubs, and during mild winters volunteers run to the rescue constructing what is needed for the seal to thrive.

This emoji shows a friendly-looking Saimaa ringed seal cub; a grey seal with spots of darker grey.