The Common Seal

With an estimated population of about 5 to 6 million individuals, this species (divided into several subspecies) is found along the coasts of the northern hemisphere.

Females give birth to their pups once a year, after a gestation period of 9 months. Seal pups are born on land and are capable of swimming and diving after just a few hours. They feed on maternal milk, very rich in fat, for only 3 to 4 weeks, during which time their weight doubles!

When they shed their winter fur, seals stop feeding for weeks. This behavior is also known in some penguin species during their molt, such as the Cape Penguins with whom they share a beach at Pairi Daiza.