We are lucky to have, here in North Wales, a breeding colony of Grey Seals. I will be spending quite a bit of time with this colony hopefully, and hope to capture some images that show these magnificent marine mammals in all their glory.
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, and numbers here have doubled since 1960. In the autumn, females congregate at traditional pupping sites called rookeries. Pups weigh 14 kilograms at birth, but since their mother's milk contains 60% fat, they quickly balloon and develop the blubber layer essential for maintaining body temperature out at sea. When feeding, these seals can dive to a depth of 70 metres.
Information source - bbc.co.uk
Please note that if you are planning to spend any time with breeding animals of any description then please be extremely careful. Do not get so close that you disturb the animals in any way. Stress in breeding colonies can result in abandonment of young, or failure to breed in the first place, and can also lead to a breeding colony never returning to the site in the future. Please be responsible and if you are lucky enough to have such a colony local to you, hopefully you can ensure it stays that way.
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, and numbers here have doubled since 1960. In the autumn, females congregate at traditional pupping sites called rookeries. Pups weigh 14 kilograms at birth, but since their mother's milk contains 60% fat, they quickly balloon and develop the blubber layer essential for maintaining body temperature out at sea. When feeding, these seals can dive to a depth of 70 metres.
Information source - bbc.co.uk
Please note that if you are planning to spend any time with breeding animals of any description then please be extremely careful. Do not get so close that you disturb the animals in any way. Stress in breeding colonies can result in abandonment of young, or failure to breed in the first place, and can also lead to a breeding colony never returning to the site in the future. Please be responsible and if you are lucky enough to have such a colony local to you, hopefully you can ensure it stays that way.
