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.
