Wildlife experts believe the
first ever twin seals have been born on the Farne Islands, off the
Northumberland coast.
The grey seal pups were
spotted by National Trust ranger David Steel, who had been monitoring a
pregnant seal.
Multiple births in grey seals
are "extremely rare" and no records exist of any having been born on
the islands.
The Sea Mammal Research Unit
at the University of St Andrews in Scotland has asked for DNA tests to verify
the pups have come from the same mother.
Mr Steel, who has worked with
the seal colony for 12 years, said: "Over the weekend, a lone heavily
pregnant cow seal was discovered on the secluded south beach.
"By Monday, the female,
still on the secluded beach, and still by herself, had given birth, but to our
surprise, not to one pup but possibly to two.
'Biologically possible'
"On the small rocky
beach, two pups were together, wet and bloody, with the mother in attendance.
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