![](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?posttype=photo&canonicalUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsibarber.ddns.net%2Farchive%2Fcontent%2Fdonna-nook-seal-births-2046%2F&content=http%3A%2F%2Fsibarber.ddns.net%2Farchive%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F016%2F030%2Fbarber-donna-nook-07%2Flarge.1728986416.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Fsibarber.ddns.net%2Farchive%2Fcontent%2Fdonna-nook-seal-births-2046%2F" title="©Si Barber. Moral rights asserted"%3E©Si Barber. Moral rights asserted%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ENew+born+seal+pup+at+Donna+Nook.+For+most+of+the+year+the+UK+grey+seal+is+seldom+seen%2C+inhabiting+the+coastal+waters+and+remaining+out+of+sight%2C+but+in+October+each+year+they+come+inland+onto+the+salt+marshes+of+Lincolnshire+to+give+birth+to+their+pups.+Despite+the+relative+shelter+of+the+mudflats+it%3Fs+a+precarious+and+often+violent+start+in+life+for+the+young+with+40%25+succumbing+to+infection%2C+drowning+or+starvation+in+the+early+weeks+of+life.+For+those+that+do+survive+they+will+also+have+avoid+the+prowling+bull+seals+who+look+to+kill+the+pups+so+they+can+copulate+again+with+the+adult+females+before+the+colony+moves+out+again+into+deep+water+during+December.+Many+of+the+cow+seals+display+their+age+with+the+scars+and+bloody+wounds+they+receive+in+these+struggles+as+they+protect+and+wean+their+young+for+a+month+before+leaving+them+literally+to+sink+or+swim.+%0A%0AAnd+if+survival+wasn%3Ft+already+against+the+odds+for+the+pups%2C+since+the+1970s+the+colony+has+chosen+to+settle+on+the+RAF+Donna+Nook+bombing+range+where+billions+of+dollars+of+military+technology+roars+overhead+rehearsing+for+war+and+oblivious+to+the+battle+for+life+and+death+going+on+below+them.+%0A%0AThis+year+so+far+and+527+pups+have+been+born+to+a+total+population+of+1791.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
©Si Barber. Moral rights asserted
New born seal pup at Donna Nook. For most of the year the UK grey seal is seldom seen, inhabiting the coastal waters and remaining out of sight, but in October each year they come inland onto the salt marshes of Lincolnshire to give birth to their pups. Despite the relative shelter of the mudflats it?s a precarious and often violent start in life for the young with 40% succumbing to infection, drowning or starvation in the early weeks of life. For those that do survive they will also have avoid the prowling bull seals who look to kill the pups so they can copulate again with the adult females before the colony moves out again into deep water during December. Many of the cow seals display their age with the scars and bloody wounds they receive in these struggles as they protect and wean their young for a month before leaving them literally to sink or swim.
And if survival wasn?t already against the odds for the pups, since the 1970s the colony has chosen to settle on the RAF Donna Nook bombing range where billions of dollars of military technology roars overhead rehearsing for war and oblivious to the battle for life and death going on below them.
This year so far and 527 pups have been born to a total population of 1791.