Global warming threatens the ribbon seal. Other special species need protection and federal scientists have already taken into consideration listing the ribbon seal under the Endangered Species Act. Chinese River Dolphin, Elephant, Giant pangolin, Golden Marmoset, Gorilla, Steller Sea Lion, Orangutan and Tiger are mammals protected by law because these species’ population is so small that it is in danger of becoming extinct. Now it’s time for the ribbon seal to be protected.

A petition claims that ice from its Arctic home is melting. "During the late winter through early summer, ribbon seals rely on the edge of the sea ice in the Bering and Okhotsk seas off Alaska and Russia as safe habitat for giving birth and as a nursery for their pup," the petition said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "But this winter sea-ice habitat is rapidly disappearing. If current ice-loss trends from global warming continue, the ribbon seal faces likely extinction by the end of the century."

The decision whether it should be mentioned on protected species list has to be taken by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service, as a response to a request made by an environmental group with officers in San Francisco.

NOOAA decided to reconsider the status of other ice seals, such as bearded, spotted and ringed seals.

The first animal species under consideration for listing as a result of difficult environmental conditions was the polar bear. But U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Interior Department delayed the discussion term to determine whether the bear has to be protected by the act.

But global warming is just one of the things that affect ribbon seal. Hunting and oil gas development and production also threaten this ice sea specie in particular.

The officials said the act should put under stricter regulation activities related to oil and gas development and production in both the United States and Russia because such activities are potentially harmful for the seals.