From adorable pups to dramatic fights between bulls, grey seals are fascinating to watch.
But these animals face continual threats. Join me as I visit a thriving colony in Yorkshire and find out what you can do to help them in their battle for survival.
Watch more seals films here: • Seals | Discover Wildl...
JOIN MY MISSION
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Here in Britain we are lucky enough to host 40% of the world's grey seal population, but globally grey seals are extremely rare. This means we have a duty to protect them for future generations. It is literally up to us to ensure grey seal populations survive.
And that's why I'd like to invite you join me in supporting British Divers Marine Life Rescue through my Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/page/rober...
You can also support my own wildlife rehabilitation and conservation work by donating here: www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s... or joining one of my supporter communities: www.robertefuller.com/support...
ABOUT THIS FILM
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Grey seals
Grey seals are the largest of UK seal species and their scientific name Halichoerus grypus, which means hook-nosed sea pig, gives you an idea of how to identify them!
Adaptations
Although clumsy on land, these large mammals are perfectly adapted to life at sea. They have large webbed flippers tipped with sharp claws and can swim effortlessly through water to catch their prey.
Breed on beaches
Each Autumn they haul up onto our beaches in large numbers to breed and this is also the time females give birth to their pups, which is incredible when you think how exhausted they must be.
Seal pups
A female normally gives birth to just one pup which she will feed up to six times a day. Seal milk has more than 10 times the fat content of cows milk which helps the pups grow by 2 kilos a day.
Breeding season
Shortly after pupping, the females are fertile again and this causes mayhem in the colony. Competition between males can be ferocious.
Beachmasters
The biggest and strongest males are known as beachmasters. They dominate a group of females in an area and can get so focussed on defending their 'harems', they often don't feed themselves
Young males are constantly on the lookout for unguarded females, but with such formidable beachmasters about, their chances are slim. Sometimes these seals take their chances to mate in the surf.
External threats
Not only do seals have to fight for survival in their own colonies, they also face external threats from pollution, declining food sources, entanglement and, probably the most distressing because it is so easily avoidable, human disturbance.
How to help seals
Seals are nervous on land and can stampede in fright, which is when the young get injured or separated from their mothers. According to Bex Lynam, Marine Advocacy Officer for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, which works to protect this particular seal colony on the Yorkshire Coast, seals are easily spooked.
Give seals space
Bex recommends always staying at least 100m away from the seals. It's also important to approach quietly, and calmly.
Conservation success
So far the work to help seals is working and populations here in Yorkshire are growing, which is fabulous news because these animals really are incredible.
ABOUT ME
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I am a British wildlife artist and filmmaker on a mission to share my love for wildlife with the world. As well as creating detailed animal film and art portraits, I promote wildlife tours around the world and do all I can to help conserve and protect wildlife here at my home in Yorkshire. I hope that by putting nature in the frame I can foster a deep love for wildlife amongst my followers.
You may like to purchase my artwork: www.robertefuller.com. Many of my paintings are portraits of the characters you watch here!
You can also follow me on these platforms:
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Or sign up to my newsletter: mailchi.mp/robertefuller/news...
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CHAPTERS
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00:00 - Introduction
01:33 - Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
05:22 - New life in the colony
08:05 - Males fight
12:07 - Newborn seal
13:10 - Seal pup in peril
15:45 - Seal Surveys
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© Robert E Fuller
Copyright Disclaimer: Please feel free to share my videos but do not download any content without permission with the intent to re-upload. If you would like to license any content, please get in touch: mail@robertefuller.com