R.A.F. Donna Nook
Grey seals always give birth in the autumn and early winter and whilst most seal colonies can be found off shore around the British Isles, on remote islands and rocky coasts, this colony of grey seals on the east coast of England come up onto the beach and give birth on the edge of the sand dunes, between mid October and mid January, the most prolific month being November.
The grey seal colony has been established at R.A.F. Donna Nook on the Lincolnshire coast since the 1970s, where originally it was about a mile out on the mud. It is now firmly established on the edge of the dunes. Originally there were only a small number of cows and bulls that arrived to pup but over the years the numbers have increased and this grey seal colony is now very well established.
The cows at Donna Nook became pregnant around this time last year after giving birth. So this time next year the same cows will return to Donna Nook to give birth again. The pups when born are pure white, soft, fluffy and very cute. How anyone can kill these beautiful creatures - as they do in some parts of the world - is beyond my comprehension. They suckle from their mothers for 3-4 weeks consuming vast quantities of milk which contains all the nutrients they need to help them put on weight. By the end of this period they are fat and start to turn grey and can now be left to fend for themselves, whilst mum concentrates on mating with the bulls, ready for next year.
After they mate, they make their way back out to sea as by now they are nearly starving themselves, having lost 25% of their body weight. The fat reserves they had before giving birth have now all gone and they need to feed if they are to survive and produce another healthy pup next year. And so the cycle starts all over again.
This wonderful and unique spectacle is open to the public and every year thousands of people come from all over the U.K. to visit the Grey seals. There are some restrictions – No dogs are allowed, the seals must not be fed or touched and you must stay behind the double wooden fence. Apart from that the seals are there for everyone to enjoy. The seals don't seem bothered by the visitors or from the noise made by the aircraft practising on R.A.F. Donna Nook bombing range.
I'm very fortunate I live right on the doorstep of this spectacle of nature and I make sure that I take a look every year. If you are ever in Lincolnshire U.K. between the end of October and the beginning of January I would recommend that you take a visit. It is for many a once in a lifetime experience and well worth every second.
Some Grey Seal Facts
- Grey seals grow up to 2.5 metres long and up to 250kg in weight.
- Males are larger than females and are darker in colour and have a 'Roman Nose' compared to the females straighter nose.
- They vary in colour from shades of grey, brown and silver, but their backs tend to be darker.
- Pups usually weigh around 13kg at birth and are covered in a cream white hair. Mum and pup bond at birth and recognise each other by call and smell.
- During the first 3 weeks the pups rarely swim, suckling 5-6 times a day for 10 minutes at a time. The milk is rich in fat to help them put on weight.
- Mum stays offshore whilst suckling and rarely feeds losing up to 25% of her body weight before the pup is weaned.
- The pups are weaned at 3-4 weeks after losing their baby coat and now weighing 45-50kg, which is three times their birth weight. They live off fat reserves until they learn how to feed which can take several weeks.
- The cows become fertile soon after weaning, mating with the bulls who hold territories.
- During breeding season bulls mate up to 6 cows.
- Mating takes place on land or water.
- Pregnancy is 11.5 months. It takes 3-4 months before the fertilised embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus and it's development is arrested (delayed implantation). As a result pups are born at the same time each year.
- They moult in the spring 3-5 months after the breeding season.
- Males breed from 6 years and females from 3-5 years.
- Males live 25 years and females up to 35 years.
** Information Grey Seals
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