First pups of the season!

The first Australian Fur Seal pups of the season have been spotted on Seal Rocks during the past week!

Fur seal pups are born around the same time of the year, within a few weeks of each other, peaking around the first week of December. At Seal Rocks, there will be a couple of thousand of these adorable furry pups clambering around the rocks over summer!

They are small (up to 50cm) and have a very dark thick fur that blends in well with the basalt rocks, making them a bit tricky to spot! The pups try to keep away from the water’s edge, as they are not able to swim at this stage. For the first few months of their lives they seek protection high up on the rocks, away from dangers such as waves, large male bull seals stampeding across, and even large birds such as Skua’s.

Pups are fully dependent on their mum’s milk until they are around 7-8 months old, when they first learn to forage for their own food. The cows/mums, need to leave their pup on the rocks for days at a time to feed. During these days you often find the pups gathered with other pups, exploring their home and learning to navigate around and getting stronger. Climbing in and out of rockpools is an important survival skill for a seal, and you will often spot the pups practicing around the little rockpools.

Join us on a Seal Watching Cruise soon to witness the newest members of the seal colony!