Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus males fighting on North Norfolk coastal wildlife reserve
Image details
Contributor:
Ernie Janes / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
A0J6XKFile size:
48.1 MB (3 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
5096 x 3296 px | 43.1 x 27.9 cm | 17 x 11 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
4 December 2022Location:
Norfolk UKMore information:
Scientific name: Halichoerus grypus meaning "hooked-nosed sea pig" Grey seals are the largest living carnivore in Britain with around 36 per cent of the world population found around the UK coast. They also live around Iceland, northern Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea, and southeast Canada. Males grow to about 2.3 metres (7.5 feet), while females are smaller and average 1.8 metres (5.9 feet) in length. The name ‘grey’ seal is rather misleading, since there is a lot of variation in colour from almost black bulls to creamy white cows and the gorgeous silky white fur of new-born pups. Grey seals breed from September to December around British shores. The female gives birth to a single pup on a shore (known as a rookery) crowded with hundreds of other seals. Grey seal pups weigh about 14kg at birth and have soft white fur. They remain on land where they suck from their mother for 18-21 days. A female's milk contains up to 60% fat, with pups gaining about 2kg in weight each day The pup grows quickly on its mother's rich milk, and she abandons her offspring after three weeks, ready to mate again. The bulls (males) haul themselves onto the shore and fight each other to establish territories. The more mature, experienced bull usually wins any fight and he mates with all the females on his part of the beach.