Grey Seals are otherwise known by the scientific Latin name of :- “Halichoerus grypus” – translated it gives them the ungracious title of :-
“Hook Nosed Sea Pig”.
Grey Seals can live for 30 – 40 years of age with females living the longest on average.
Females grow up to 200kg and males up to 300kg in weight and 2.9mts long, a site to behold.
White furry pups are typically born in the Autumn, locally in Cumbria, pups have been born as early as August.
Suckling on their mothers for 18 – 21 days, they double in weight from 14kg to 30kg on a diet of their mothers rich milk, which is up to 60% fat, after this stage they will venture into the water for the first time.
The soft white fur of the pups is called “Laguno”, this is shed after 3 – 4 weeks after which they grow a shorter more waterproof coat which typically takes 3 – 4 weeks.
40% of the World’s population of Grey Seals live in the seas around the British Isles, with up to 500 being recorded locally.
Seal Gallery
