National Trust Records Huge Increase in Number of Seal Pups Born at Orford Ness in Suffolk
By Conservation Correspondent
It’s been a record-breaking season at Orford Ness in Suffolk, where National Trust rangers are celebrating the birth of 430 grey seal pups — an astonishing 88% increase on last year’s total.
Matt Wilson, Countryside Manager for the National Trust’s Suffolk and Essex Coast portfolio, said:
“This year, our peak counts included 803 adults and 430 pups, by far the highest numbers we’ve seen since grey seals arrived in 2021.”
The colony has steadily grown since 2021, when the first 200 adult seals returned after the pandemic closure.
Orford Ness, once a military testing site, is now home to Suffolk’s first breeding grey seal colony.
Pup numbers have jumped from 25 in 2021-22 to 228 last year — now more than 430 pups this season!
“We’re now in the fifth consecutive year of successful breeding,” Matt adds. “Some of the adults having pups this year would have been born here in 2021 and 2022. It’s a great sign that the habitat is healthy, with enough food and shelter from storms to support them.”
The National Trust keeps Orford Ness closed from October to spring, which coincides with pupping season and protects the seals from disturbance. Rangers monitor the colony weekly, using telescopes and binoculars to check on the pups safely.
“It’s been fantastic to see the colony grow over the past few months,” says ranger Tom Allen. “Wintry weather and the seals moving around make counting tricky, but we’ve been able to monitor them carefully without disturbing them.”
Even storms like this year’s Storm Goretti couldn’t stop the colony thriving.
Most pups had already moulted and were able to survive in the water, and the remaining pups were safely observed on the shingle beach.
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The National Trust works with partners including the Sea Mammal Research Unit, British Divers Marine Life Rescue, WildlifeWise, and the RSPCA East Winch to support the colony, ensuring these seals have the best chance to grow and flourish.
With this record haul of pups, Orford Ness is proof that protecting habitats pays off — and wildlife fans can look forward to watching this thriving colony for years to come.
