A WWF livecam at an undisclosed site along the shores of Lake Saimaa has again recorded a fight between two rare and endangered fresh-water Saimaa ringed seals battling for possession of a rock that has proven to be a popular spot to hang out and enjoy the lengthening days of spring.
On Sunday, a female, designated as "Phs174" (from Pusa hispida saimensis, Latin for Saimaa ringed seal + the order in which it was first observed) was on camera, and had been lying peacefully on the rock for several hours when a fellow Saimaa seal arrived and made a move to take her spot.
The new arrival sank its teeth into one of the female's hind flippers and when she tried to twist herself free, the battle shifted into the water.
WWF Finland tweeted a video recording of the battle (in Finnish, below), noting things are getting pretty "wild" and wondering what may still be in store this season.
The camera caught a few minutes of the two thrashing in the shallow water before the attacker apparently made a hasty retreat, leaving fans with a view of just one half-submerged seal, assumed to be Phs174.
According to WWF Finland, this is the second battle for the rock seen since the camera went live again this year.
The first was last week. At that time, Mervi Kunnasranta of the Saimaa ringed seal research project at the University of Eastern Finland said that the fight is likely no more than a disagreement over a prime spot to relax and nap.