" Halichoerus Grypus"
Seal keeping a close eye on nearby pup.
Bay , near strumble head, (Porthsychan) .
Seal Pups on beaches , Sept-Oct-Nov.
Grey Seals are the largest breeding seals found in the UK. Half of the world's population of
grey seals is found around British coasts / In the autumn, females congregate at traditional
pupping sites called rookeries / Pups weigh 14 kilograms at birth / When feeding seals can
dive to a depth of 70 metres / Pembrokeshire has a 5,000 strong colony
Pups are born in caves or on beaches from Mid August -October / The white-coated pups spend the first
three weeks feeding / Mothers feed the pups three to four times a day (the pups are left
alone the rest of the time) / After this the pups are left to fend for themselves, spending
most of their time at sea, returning to the shore to haul out and rest / Grey seals are a
gregarious species, living and feeding in groups. Their coats are dappled silvery to dusky
brown-grey in colour / Male Grey seals appear to be black when wet / Males are bulky
animals that can grow up to 2.5 metres in length, and weigh up to 330 kg / females are
smaller than the males - 2m in length , and weigh up to 180kg / Lifespan 30-40 years .
After the breeding season seals congregate on beaches , from December to
February or March , to go through their annual moult.
Ref: 3910
Date: 05/10/2008
Location: SM 906.408
