Brief reminder of Part 1 (without any mistake ).
Seals have made the Baie de Somme their home. Although they are fearful, safety measures must be respected. Two species of seals live together in the same area, but they gather in colonies.
Today, there are 400 marine calves and 100 grey seals. These two species live together on the same teritory but are grouped by species. They live to the rhythm of the tides. At high tide, seals swim in search of fish and shelfish to feed themselves. In principle, they need 2 to 5 kg of fish per day. The only two species found on this coastline are the harbour seal and the grey seal. The average size of a seal calf is 150 centimeters and its weight is 90 kg, The grey seal is distinguished by its larger size (over 2 metres ), a weight of over 250 kilos and a longer snaout. It has a grey, motled and spoted coat.
Sexual maturity is reached between 4 and 7 years for males and between 3 and 6 years for females. The life expecteancy is up to 25 years for males and 35 years for females, which varies according to the area where they live. Mating tends to take place in the water for harbour seals and on land for grey seals. Males are polygamous and compete with each other to reproduce. There are two mating seasons : spring and early autumn. The gestation period last about 8 to 9 months depending on the species and give birth to a single cub of 9 to 13 kg and 70 to 90 cm, called a ' whitecoat ' because of its white wolly coat. The female always gives birth on the shore. The pups can swim and snorkel a few hours after birth. Nursing lasts 3 to 4 weeks with extremly rich and fatty milk. The young ones of the year are left to their own devices and the fat reserves accumulated will enable them to survive during their learning phase of autonomous hunting.
It is at sunset, with its glowing colours illuminating the Authie Bay, that we regretfully leave these marine mammals basking on the sandbanks, an image that we will remember for a long time. |
