Question

What advantage does giving birth in the harshest part of winter give to the grey seal pups?

Answer 1

The grey seals are found in the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. They breed in several colonies on and near the coast. They exhibit coloration of blackish to whitish specks. The males are darker in skin color than in females. The pups are born with yellow and white tint. A thick layer of skin called as blubber develops around the skin of the new ones which helps in providing them with insulation against the cold atmosphere.

Answer 2

Grey seals breed in habitats where disturbance is kept to a minimal, like rocky shores, ice flows and islands. They feed on cold open waters. When pups are given birth in early winter or late autumn, their skins are white with yellowish tint. They are relatively helpless and rely on their mother's milk for the first few weeks after birth. They deposit a thick layer of blubber that will protect and allow them to adapt to the cold to sustain them when they will hunt for themselves.