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The small resident population is highly unusual compared to the typical Arctic ringed seal, which has an enormous population size and often travels thousands of kilometres around the Arctic in search of food.

The samples were sent for genetic analyses to uncover the seals' DNA profile, and the results revealed that the Kangia ringed seals are genetically different from the typical Arctic ringed seal.

But where and how the Kangia ringed seal was isolated from the other Arctic ringed seals and why it acquired its new special biological characteristics is still a mystery.

The ringed seal has an uncertain future as its breeding habitat has drastically declined due to reduced ice cover, the report stated.

The blubber from one adult ringed seal can help a polar bear survive for more than 10 days.