The abandoned UK beach that’s now been taken over by hundreds of adorable seals | UK | News
The abandoned UK beach that’s now been taken over by hundreds of adorable seals | UK | News
A UK beach, once abandoned, is now home to hundreds of adorable seals. A grey seal colony has made its home at a former Cold War weapons testing site on the Suffolk coast.
Over 130 grey seal pups have been born at Orford Ness this breeding season. The rangers say that these cuddly creatures have used the ex-military site as a breeding ground every year since 2021, after visitor access was reduced due to the pandemic.
It’s believed they came from large colonies in Norfolk, including Blakeney and Horsey, and are now Suffolk’s first breeding grey seal colony.
Orford Ness was used for military testing during both world wars and the nuclear age, before being sold to the National Trust by the Ministry of Defence in 1993.
Matt Wilson, countryside manager for the National Trust’s Suffolk and Essex Coast portfolio, said: « The first 200 adult seals arrived at the site in 2021, after an extended period of closure due to the pandemic, when visitor access was significantly reduced.
« Since then, numbers have increased year-on-year as the colony has established. Although grey seals can often be spotted in the waters around Suffolk, we believe this to be the county’s first breeding colony. »
Female grey seals, known as cows, can live for 30 to 35 years and have their first pups between the ages of three and five. They usually return to the same place each year to give birth.
Male grey seals usually live for about 20 to 25 years. Mr Wilson shared that rangers have been counting seals at Orford Ness every week since October, often spotting more than 250 adult seals each week, and sometimes up to 500.
The first baby seals were counted in November, with the most recent count reaching 130. The breeding season for grey seals is from October to March, which is when Orford Ness is closed to visitors, so the seals aren’t disturbed.
Mr Wilson believes the remote nature of the site and lack of disturbance has helped establish the colony. « We also believe it’s a sign of healthy numbers of grey seals along the eastern coastline, as numbers are likely spilling over from well-populated colonies at Blakeney Point, also cared for by the National Trust, as well as Horsey Gap, » he added.
He urged people to respect the seals’ space to give the pups the best chance of survival. He mentioned that guided access might be offered next winter, but asked that people do not visit out of season and avoid using drones in the area.
Glen Pearce, Orford Ness’s property operations manager, said: « Since the seals’ arrival in 2021, our team of volunteers and staff have monitored the seals from a distance, keeping the growing seal colony a secret. »The first 200 adult seals arrived at the site in 2021, after an extended period of closure due to the pandemic, when visitor access was significantly reduced.
« This has helped to keep these vulnerable wild animals protected at a crucial stage of their development. However, the colony has now grown to a size where we want people to share this amazing wildlife success story with our supporters, but also to advise visitors how they can help us protect the colony.
« Unauthorised access, by foot, boat or drone, is illegal and also dangerous because of the unique and remote nature of the former military site. »
Cet article est apparu en premier en ANGLAIS sur https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1865897/Grey-seal-colony-Cold-War-weapons-site-abandoned-beach