Gray seal pup, Norfolk, England

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Nov 21, 2023 bing



Gray seal pup, Norfolk, England © Vince Burton/Minden Pictures

Here in Norfolk, on the east coast of England, a seasonal wildlife spectacle is underway. Between early November and January, thousands of gray seal pups are born on the shoreline, a little earlier than those on US coasts. The seal moms feed their pups on the beach for three weeks, during which time the pups gain about 4.5 pounds a day. They stay on the beach until they shed their pale fur to make way for a waterproof, mottled gray coat. Then it"s time to head to the sea and learn to hunt for themselves.