Pup

Grey Seal Pup

[halichoerus grypus]

 

I went to Ballantrae Bay, after lunch, today. This beautiful little guy was lying on gravel on the beach, looking sad, lost and lonely... I thought he had slipped from the rocks, behind, and couldn’t get back into the sea. Some people (three!) were very concerned so I called the Scottish SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) who immediately dispatched an officer to the scene.

 

The officer called me, a couple of hours later, saying she couldn’t find the pup...I gave very explicit directions, and she arrived at the place I had been, earlier. It seems the tide had come in and, either, the pup took off into the sea, or his mother came to collect him after feeding, all day.

 

I checked on the University of Google (!) and it appears that after four weeks, the seal cows abandon their babies!!! I was aghast!

 

I really hope this poor wee soul isn’t as old as four weeks, or that he is maybe six or seven weeks and can fend for himself...U of G also said that after being weaned at four weeks, the pups live off their fat reserves, for quite some time.

 

Nature, eh? Beautiful but brutal...

 

Come on, wee sweetie - you can do it!

 

 

Ballantrae Bay

SW Scotland

Done