|
|||
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The seals have a remarkable historical link with the Magdalen Islands. Seals were an integral part of the natural environment before humans arrived on the Islands, and have been part of the cultural environment ever since they were colonized by the people now known as "les Madelinots." This 1600 square feet traveling exhibition reveals the particular relationship between the seals and the Madelinots. Throughout the exhibition, visitors learn surprising facts about the fascinating universe as well as the science behind the four species of seals that inhabit the Islands: the common seal, the grey seal, the hooded seal and the camera-friendly Greenland seal. "Playful" is the word to use in describing many aspects of this exhibition. It is also interactive: visitors are able to test their knowledge and manipulate artifacts, lift weights, listen to sounds and eyewitness accounts. They will also learn how the seal hunt has evolved since the well-known controversy that began in the 1960's. Issues surrounding the presence of the seals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence will be examined from a scientific viewpoint. The Seals of the Magdalen Islands exhibition offers many museological possibilities. It is particularly successful with families and school groups, the primary clientele of museums and science centres. To respond to the needs of these groups, an educational kit, including the necessary documents for educational activities, is available for group leaders.  Introduction This module introduces the exhibition and explains the geographical context of the Magdalen Islands. Zone 1: The first zone presents the habitat of seals, introducing the four species of seals that are found on the Magdalen Islands. Born on an ice floe Two species produce their young during the winter months near the Magdalen Islands. The Greenland seal is the most well-known of the two, but the hooded seal is equally fascinating. Reproductions of the heads of each species illustrate their differences. On the Magdalen Islands, residents use a particular vocabulary to describe the different types of ice. You will discover the types using an association game. Basking in the sun During summertime, the grey and the common seal can be observed. The latter is the smallest of the four species on the island. A text and a miniature model illustrate the formation of the island archipelago. You will also discover the secret behind the red colour of its cliffs. Zone 2: This zone explains the biology of the four species. The visual attractions are the magnificent naturalized specimens, as well as the tactile pleasure of touching the various skins. With a very simple game, visitors will discover the principal characteristics of these marine mammals. Differences are compared between the seals and the two other families of the order of pinnipeds: otters and walruses. Visitors will be able to discover the specific characteristics of each of the species. For example, did you know that the male hooded seal has a membrane on its nose that it can inflate like a football? It is used to impress other males and of course, to attract females. Another game enables visitors to discover the eight different skins of the Greenland seal from birth to adulthood. The grey seal stays underwater on average between four and six minutes. But a record time of 56 minutes has been recorded. Using a stopwatch, visitors can test their own ability to hold their breath. The migration of seals is presented in the form of a map with lights indicating their route. Did you know that the common seal has only one local migration? It stays in the Gulf of St. Lawrence during the entire year. This has the effect of rendering the species particularly vulnerable to pollutants. Did you know that seals which reproduce during the winter months make use of a phenomenon called delayed implantation? Also, if the ice is not solid enough come spring, females are able to delay birth for several days. These two phenomena are illustrated in a humorous comic strip. Zone 3: This zone deals particularly with the close ties between the Madelinots and the seals. Hunting has always been an important activity in the Magdalen Islands. Historically, seals were hunted for food and for lamp oil. Over time, this natural resource came to be the economic mainstay of the community. The boycott of the 1970's and 80's had a very serious impact on the Magdalen Islands. In our day, hunting is regulated by permits and quotas. Scientists have studied the impact of hunting on seal populations. But the controversy hasn’t stopped there. Many fishermen believe that the diminishing of fish, crab and lobster stocks is due to the seals. Visitors can try to make up their own minds about this question by listening to the eyewitness account of a hunter and by reading the different points of view of interested parties. Children can climb inside a sealing canoe, the type of vessel that was used in olden days to hunt over the ice. Their little hands will be kept busy feeling different sealskins while their parents learn to recognize the different tools used in traditional hunting expeditions. Visitors will have an overview of the different research projects led by scientists to take a census of the seal population and to study their impact on fish and crustaceans. Zone 4: Today, there is a whole new market for seal products. Seal meat and oil are recognized for their beneficial effects on health. Our showcases present various products of the seal hunt: leather articles, meat and oil capsules. As well, ecotourism has been a major development over the past 10 years or so. Every spring, people from Europe, America and Asia come to observe baby seals on the ice floes just off the coast of the Magdalen Islands. The difficult years appear to be a part of the past for the Madelinots. During the 1990's, Asian and Eastern European markets enabled the hunt to go on once again. But it is a transformed hunt: it has adapted to permit the long-term conservation of this resource. The Madelinots are proud of the particular bonds that link them to the seals, and they want the world to know about it! |
