Hooded seals were once hunted in large numbers for their fur and blubber. This hunting pressure reduced their population to a fraction of its original size. Although international agreements now protect hooded seals from commercial hunting, they are still sometimes killed by subsistence hunters.
Climate change
Climate change is causing the Arctic sea ice to melt at an alarming rate. This is reducing the amount of habitat available for hooded seals, who use the ice to breed, give birth, and nurse their young. As the sea ice melts, hooded seals are also forced to compete for food with other seal species that are moving into their territory.
Pollution
Pollution is another threat to hooded seals. They can ingest pollutants such as oil, plastic, and heavy metals, which can cause health problems. Pollutants can also accumulate in the food chain, meaning that hooded seals can be exposed to high levels of toxins even if they do not directly ingest them.
Predators
Hooded seals have several natural predators, including polar bears, killer whales, and sharks. These predators can kill hooded seals of all ages, but they are especially dangerous to young pups.
The combination of these threats has caused the hooded seal population to decline significantly in recent years. Hooded seals are now considered to be an endangered species.