Seal pups – cute and canine

There’s no room for stay-at-home Gen Xers in an Australian Fur Seal family. Mother seals mate again just a week after giving birth in November-December. Babies are suckled for about 8 months when they are able to join their mother on fishing expeditions to learn to feed themselves. At 11 months after the birth, the next baby is well on the way and the young pups have to move on.

These pups can be found resting on rocks or even pier landings in the south of the Bay. The one pictured here at Rye attracted quite a bit of attention from beach-goers and really just wanted to be left alone.

Anyone finding a seal should keep well away. Although they are incredibly cute and appear sluggish, they can move surprisingly fast and their razor sharp canine teeth could really make a mess of you.