Friday 2 November 2012

Experts' joy at birth of first Farne Island twin seals


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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