Atlantic Grey Seals
The Grey seal is the largest of the two seals seen around the UK coast. The UK has 40% of the worlds population, about 120,000
Around the Welsh coast there is approximately 6500
Grey Seals are protected by law
Grey seals are larger and darker in colour with a distinct 'Roman' shaped nose, with parallel nostrils. The females (Cows) have unique blotches on the coats (Pelage), and these markings are used to identify individual females.
Female Grey seals are smaller than the males (Bulls). The females grow to between 1.6 to 2 meters in length, and weigh up to 250 kg.
Bull seals can grow over 2 meters, and can weigh up to 350 kg.
Seals were the first mammals to be protected by law under the Grey Seals Protection Act of 1914. Atlantic Grey seals are protected under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970: Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
Cwmtydu is in the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) protects the wildlife found in around 1000 kms of sea.
The protection of these seals is of international importance.
Seals come ashore at various times, at 'haul out sites' to rest between tides, Spring time to moult, and to give birth and mate in the autumn.
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Males - Bull seals
Bulls are much larger than females. they can average over 2.5m and weigh up to 400kg.
They are darker in colour
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Females - Cow seals
Females can be told apart by their pelage (colour and spots). They can grow to just over 2m, and weigh up to 250 kg.
They give birth in the autumn to a single white coated pup
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Pups
Pups are born with a white fur coat, which they lose over the first couple of weeks.
They weigh about 14kgs at birth. They are dependent on their mothers for milk, which is high in fat (40% fat), and will triple their weight in the first couple of weeks.
Pups can swim but need to be close to Mum, and not in too long, due to their coats becoming waterlogged
They look cute; BEWARE they can BITE
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Facts
Seals are mammals, they breathe air, and give birth on land.
They are capable of holding their breath when diving. Usual dives last about eight minutes. They are able to work without oxygen, by building up an 'oxygen debt'. Seals have a complex set of blood vessels, which under pressure can serve the brain alone, which must have a constant supply of oxygen.
They can drop their heartbeat down to 40 beats or less per minute. Their muscles also contain large amounts of Myoglobin, a compound capable of carrying oxygen. This all goes to prepare seals to dive without the need to breathe for some time.
Seals rest by hanging vertically in the water, with just the head showing above the water. 'Bottling' the only view most people get to see.
Grey seals spend most of their time at sea, and are at their element there. They are opportunist feeders. Sand eels, Cod and Herring are important foods, but they will take whatever is available, and this has led to conflict with fishermen.