Grey seal by Jackie Dent 1/10
Grey seal by Colin Eve 2/10
Grey seal by David Savory 3/10
Grey seals by Paul Charnock 4/10
Grey seal pup by Nick Goodrum 5/10
Grey seal with young by Norman Wyatt 6/10
Grey seals by Cliff Cole 7/10
Grey seal with pup by Jackie Dent 8/10
Grey seal by Peter Dent 9/10
Grey seal by Pat Adams 10/10

Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus

When you walk along the Norfolk coast, you may well be joined by a curious grey seal as it patrols the water.  Grey seals are charismatic animals, which will often be seen hauled out in favourite spots along the Norfolk coast.  Norfolk now holds claim to hosting the largest pupping site in England at Blakeney Point, with over 3,000 pups being born in 2018/19.

Conservation status

The grey seal population in Norfolk is thriving with about 3,000 pups born at Blakeney Point and 2,000 at Horsey Beach. About 50% of the world population of grey seals lives around the British Coast, making the UK an important breeding area for them.

Related questions & advice

When do grey seals have their pups in Norfolk?
Where is the best place to see grey seal pups in Norfolk?
I have found a sick seal what should I do?
I have seen a seal with plastic or netting round its neck, what should I do?
I have found a seal pup all on its own, what should I do?

Details

Did you know? The Latin name for the grey seal means hook-nosed sea pig.
A colony of breeding seals is called a rookery.
A seal’s milk is 60% fat.
Although the female will mate shortly after the birth of her pup, the fertilised egg does not start to develop until much later. This allows the pup to be born the same time the following year.
How to recognise
Where to see
When to see
Find out more
How to help
Share this