THE SEALS OF HORSEY
The seals found on Horsey beach are Atlantic grey seals. Their scientific name is Halichoerus grypus, meaning ‘hook-nosed sea pig’. Approximately half of the world’s population of grey seals are found in British waters, and Horsey has been an important breeding site for the species for several centuries. The site is perfect for their needs, due to the gently shelving beach and the protective nature of the dunes. Lying here, and by rolling around, they can keep warm and rid themselves of parasites at the same time. The breeding site is known as a rookery or haul-out. The pregnant females, or cows, arrive at the site first, from October onwards. After giving birth, they feed their pups on rich, fatty milk for three weeks. This helps them develop the blubber they will need in order to keep warm in the sea. The mother’s milk is 60 per cent fat and has the consistency of condensed milk. While they are suckling, the pups will put on 4lb (2kg) of weight per day. When the males, known as bulls, arrive, they compete for space nearest to the cows. The fittest bulls claim the best positions for the next round of mating. After the pup is weaned, the mother will mate, then leave, to return to the same site the following year. Over the next few weeks, the pup will moult its soft white coat and develop a mottled waterproof one in its place. The pup will not feed during this time and relies on the fat stored during suckling. When it starts to feel hungry, it will make its way to the sea, where it will learn to swim and to feed itself. The seals’ welfare is overseen by a voluntary community group, the Friends of Horsey Seals. The group is particularly active during the winter, as the colony is at its most vulnerable during the breeding and mating season. The charity’s volunteers are also involved throughout the year in the rescue of seals that are sick or in distress. More than half of the pups born on the beach will not survive their first year, so the Friends’ aim is to give as many pups as possible the best start in life. To this end, they have arranged voluntary exclusion zones around the beach. These help to keep humans at a distance which will not endanger the seals or cause them anxiety. For these reasons, dogs must be kept on short leads, and visitors should not go any closer to the seals than the dedicated observation areas. If approached, the animals may become aggressive. In addition, if a pup is startled and strays too far from its mother, it may not find her again, or worse, be injured or killed by a neighbouring bull seal. If visitors respect these conditions and keep to the marked paths, the experience of viewing these remarkable creatures in their favourite habitat may be one that is fondly treasured for many years to come.