Seals gather to moult their worn-out winter fur on stretch of Norfolk beach
It takes roughly six weeks to complete, with seals ridding themselves of dead hair by scratching and rubbing against the sand or rocks.
More than 2,500 grey seals have gathered on a beach to moult their worn-out winter fur and grow new sleek coats.
The blubbery mammals, at Horsey in Norfolk, cluster together to conserve heat during the annual process which begins around two to three months after breeding.
It takes roughly six weeks to complete, with seals ridding themselves of dead hair by scratching and rubbing against the sand or rocks.
But seawater and parasites take their toll on a seal’s fur, and it is renewed annually.
The stretch of coast at Horsey has become an important breeding ground for grey seals, with 3,632 pups recorded in the last official count of the season in January.
People are asked to keep a safe distance from the seals during the shedding and to keep dogs under control on a lead, or they risk harming the animals.
Getting too close can also be dangerous for people as seals are wild animals with sharp teeth, Friends of Horsey Seals cautioned.
