Orford Ness seal colony thriving with ‘lack of human disturbance’

A big colony of seals is prospering on an English shoreline because of a “lack of human disturbance”, in response to the location’s supervisor

Orford Ness in Suffolk is the house to the county’s first breeding colony of gray seals.

The positioning, managed by the Nationwide Belief, welcomes increasingly more seals throughout every winter breeding season.

Matt Wilson, the belief’s countryside supervisor for the Suffolk and Essex coast, mentioned he hoped the location would rival different UK seal colonies.

This winter’s breeding season, which started in November, has seen 80 pups already born with many extra anticipated.

Since 2021, when the seals first arrived, their numbers have been steadily growing.

The positioning is now residence to about 400 seals, up from about 200 three years in the past.

“We’re actually fortunate,” mentioned Mr Wilson.

“It is a part of their pure motion of colonies anyway, in order that they’ve moved down, we predict, from Lincolnshire and Norfolk colonies.

“They’ve shaped a breakaway group, discovered this web site and moved into the area we have right here.

“It is an actual privilege to have them on this web site and a duty, too, for the workforce right here.”

Orford Ness is a 10-mile lengthy (16km) vegetated shingle spit, joined to the mainland simply south of Aldeburgh.

Through the twentieth Century it was a army testing web site.

The general public are in a position to go to through the summer time however not allowed to get near the colony.

Mr Wilson mentioned he believed this was a “main issue” within the colony’s success.

“Even throughout our open season for guests, the general public aren’t allowed on to this part as a result of the seals are nonetheless right here by way of the summer time,” he mentioned.

“It is an ideal issue for them, this lack of human disturbance, for what’s a extremely wonderful prevalence on this web site.”

Mr Wilson mentioned the spit’s ridges and dips additionally added a “pure shelter barrier” towards dangerous winter climate.

He mentioned the success of the colony was a very good indicator of the well being of each the species and the marine atmosphere, as a result of the seals wouldn’t be there except there was a very good meals supply for them within the North Sea.

“We’re actually hoping it would change into one of many hotspots for gray seals across the UK coast,” he mentioned.

“It’s such an infinite potential; it’s a nice atmosphere for them.”