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Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, England - November 2003
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| Grey Seals congregate on breeding beaches, such as at Donna Nook, in the autumn each year to give birth. The pups are born with a covering of white fur, or lanugo, which is shed after 2-3 weeks. The mother's milk is extremely rich, containing over 53% fat, enabling the pups to gain body weight very quickly (about 1.8kg per day). |
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Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, England - November 2003
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| Mating usually takes place about 3 weeks after the female has given birth, and until then the females vigourously attack any male they consider is getting too close. |
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Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, England - November 2003
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| They also spend a lot of time fighting amongst themselves... |
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Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, England - November 2003
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| A large proportion of the seals at Donna Nook have a browish colour which is not completely due to staining from the sand. The population a bit further north on the Farne Islands show a much more typical colouration. |
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Farne Islands, Northumberland, England - June 2004
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