Blakeney seal pup drop is 'good news' for reserve

1 January 2016 

The number of seals born at England's largest colony has dropped for the first time after nine years of growth.

The National Trust counted 2,342 pups born this season at Blakeney in Norfolk - about 80 fewer than last year.

Ajay Tegala, National Trust ranger, said: "This is good news as the seals were spreading at such a rate over such a big area that it makes it easier to protect them."

The Trust said the lower birth rate meant the colony had "stabilised".

After grey seals began colonising the spit on the north Norfolk coast, the Trust said there was anecdotal evidence of two pups being born in 1987 or 1988 and a first "official" record of five pups in 1999.

A more accurate standardised method of counting pups began in 2006 when 213 were recorded.

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Pup numbers boom at English seal colony

Blakeney Point becomes the biggest breeding site for grey seals in England thanks to remote, sheltered beach

Press Association

Monday 19 January 2015 10.01 GMT

A grey seal colony has seen the number of pups born each year increase a hundred-fold in just 14 years to become the biggest breeding site for the animals in England.

North Norfolk’s Blakeney Point, managed by the National Trust, saw 2,426 seals born this year, almost double the number born there two years ago.

National Trust experts put the success of the colony, which has grown exponentially since the first 25 pups were born there 14 years ago, down to the remote, sheltered beach which is safe from predators and other disturbances.

To prevent walkers disturbing the seals, which can increase the chance of fighting among the adults and lead to the pups being crushed, National Trust rangers and volunteers have fenced off part of the beach and dunes and introduced viewing areas.

National Trust rangers monitor the colony, tracking and recording seal pups born throughout the winter from November. The young seals are expected to be on Blakeney Point until the end of January.

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