Each seal on the map indicates a place where I have visited Pinnipeds so far.

The term seal is commonly used to refer to the thirty-four species of the suborder Pinnipedia, a group of fin-footed marine mammals that are divided into three families: Phocidae, which are known as earless or true seals, Otariidae, which are known as eared seals and include sea lions and fur seals, and Odobenidae whose only existing member is the walrus. These species live on the coast lines of all seven continents (and in a few lakes too!) Their environments are vastly different, from tropical waters to frozen ice sheets.

Pinnipeds are indicator species so their statuses can be used to infer the health of their ecosystems. For example, an overabundance of starving pups gives a clue that something is amiss in the ocean. On the other hand, if an indicator species is stable, it is likely the whole ecosystem is stable. Therefore, seals seal, or confirm, peace in the oceans of the world.

Through my photographs, I hope to engender an appreciation for each individual species as well as their diverse environments and the challenges the environments are facing. Each species has something to teach us.