Orford Ness seal colony thriving with 'lack of human disturbance'

A big colony of seals is flourishing on an English seashore because of a “lack of human disturbance”, in line with the positioning's supervisor.

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

Managed by the National Trust, the positioning welcomes increasingly seals throughout the breeding season every winter.

Matt Wilson, the belief's countryside supervisor for the Suffolk and Essex coast, stated he hoped the positioning would rival different UK seal colonies.

The breeding season has been noticed this winter, beginning in November. 80 puppies have already been born And with many extra expectations.

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

The web site is now house to about 400 seals, up from about 200 three years in the past.

“We're really lucky,” Mr Wilson stated.

“It's part of their natural movement of colonies anyway, so we think they've moved down from the Lincolnshire and Norfolk colonies.

“They formed a separate group, found this site and moved to the location that got us here.

“Having him on this site is a real privilege and also a responsibility for the team here.”

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

During the twentieth century it was a navy testing web site.

The public is ready to go to throughout the summer season however isn’t allowed near the colony.

Mr Wilson stated he believed this was a “major factor” within the success of the colony.

“Even during our open season for visitors, the public is not allowed in this section because the seals are still here during the summer,” he stated.

“That's a big factor for them, the lack of human disturbance, is a really surprising phenomenon at this site.”

Mr Wilson stated the spit's peaks and slopes additionally add a “natural shelter barrier” towards inclement winter climate.

He stated the success of the colony is an efficient indicator of the well being of each the species and the marine setting, because the seals won’t keep there until there’s a good meals supply for them within the North Sea.

“We're certainly hoping it will become one of the hotspots for gray seals around the UK coast,” he stated.

“It's a huge potential; it's a great environment for them.”