Weddell
seal milk is one of the richest produced by any mammal. It contains about
60% fat (go and compare that to the label on the milk carton in the
fridge) and it is this that is responsible for the rapid weight gain made
by pups shortly after birth. They are weaned (stop drinking milk and begin
eating normal seal food, i.e. fish) at around 7 weeks when they
should have reached about 110kg (242lb). When adult, they will weigh
up to 400kg (880lb) and be up to 3m (10ft) long. Unusually, the males are
slightly smaller than the females.
Pups are encouraged into the water very
early on by their mothers, perhaps only a week or so after birth. The
water is their natural habitat and with their thick protection of blubber is
a more comfortable place to be most of the time for these seals
than out on the ice where the temperature can be -40° C or less with
winds frequently of gale force or greater.
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.
