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Photo: G. Bradley
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UK
Safari Tip:
For more in detailed photos and information about grey seals checkout this
special book - click here
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Latin name: Halichoerus grypus
Size: Can grow to a length of around two metres.
Distribution: More than half of the worlds grey seal population lives and breeds around the U.K.
coast. The largest populations are found on the Farne Islands, the Cornish coast and Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland.
Months seen: All year round.
Habitat: Rocky coastline.
Food: They feed on fish such as cod and salmon.
Special features: The male (bull) grey seals are the largest mammals found in the UK. They can weigh up to twice that of our largest land mammal, the red deer.
Grey seals differ from the common seal in that they have a longer muzzle.
Grey seals can dive to a depth of seventy metres and spend an average of eight minutes underwater. They are able to stay underwater for up to thirty minutes before coming up for air.
Between September and November, the females (cows) give birth to their pups. When they are born, the pups weigh around 15kgs. The milk produced by their mothers is almost 60% fat, and the pups drink roughly 3 litres a day.
 As a result the pups weight rapidly increases. They put on about 35 to 40 kilos in under 3 weeks. At the same time the mothers lose around 70 to 80kgs.
Since they are the third rarest seal in the world, grey seals are protected during the breeding season by law, from September 1st to December 31st.
Did You Know?
Seals often sleep at sea, with their noses bobbing out of the water like upright
bottles. It's thought they only sleep for around 90 seconds at a time!
UK Safari Marine Mammal Section
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