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Female Crabeater seals give birth
on an ice floe around September and suckles the young from a birth weight
of about 20kg (44lb) to 110kg (242lb) at weaning, this takes around
a month. As with other Antarctic seals, the female comes into oestrous
very quickly and an attendant male will mate with a female, seeing others
off. After mating the male leaves the female and goes to find another
receptive female that he can mate with.
Many seals give the impression that
they form cozy family groups as they lay around together. The reality
is usually that it is a mixed group of individuals with no real bonds
other than mothers and their pups.
Don't they have some of the best scenery
to look at though?!
Photo; © Paul Ward - Pentax equipment,
100mm lens, 35mm film, K64. This picture may not be copied or
used in any manner without prior written permission.
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