This is the moment a cute baby seal tests the frozen surface of a marine centre pool and then falls through the ice.
The incident was filmed by staff members of the ‘Fond Druzei Baltiyskoy Nerpy’ (‘Baltic Seal Friends Fund’) in the north-western Russian city of Saint Petersburg, and the footage was later posted on social media where it has been viewed over 52,000 times.
In the footage, a cute seal pup, named Kroshik, is seen waddling towards a small pool before realising it has frozen over.
Video Credit: CEN/@sealrescue
Apparently unsure what to do next, the chubby pup initially turns to leave but then returns and places half of its weight on the frozen surface.
As the cute pup looks at the camera, the ice under its body gives way and Kroshik falls through the cracks.
The chubby pup then enjoys a refreshing swim.
According to staff at the centre, the ice was over four centimetres thick and Kroshik weighed between 35 and 40 kilogrammes (77 and 88 lbs).
Netizen ‘Ivan Nemtsov’ said: “This is the best social ad I’ve ever seen. Sell it to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations so they can have at least one social ad we are not ashamed of.”
‘Anna Parfenova’ commented: “Even a baby seal understands the dangers of stepping on thin ice, yet some people think they are immortal when walking on it.”
The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a large seal of the family Phocidae which are commonly referred to as ‘true seals’ or ‘earless seals’.
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Story By: Gheorghi Caraseni, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
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