Sally The Seal
I am Sally and I was born on Horsey beach a week ago. It is very busy here with lots of other seals and their mums on the beach. I stay close to my mummy because I get very hungry. She lets me suckle her yummy milk six times a day from the two teats on her tummy. She told me that her milk has lots of fat in it so I can grow bigger and stronger very quickly.
When I am not feeding, I like to sleep a lot. She keeps me safe from other seals and gets very grumpy with them if they get too close. She shows she is cross by hissing at them and showing her sharp teeth. Mummy says all the daddy seals who seem to spend most of their time chasing each other around and fighting need to grow up. She says I can’t go swimming in the sea yet, like the bigger seals do, because my lovely fluffy white fur is not waterproof.
Mummy told me that after three weeks of looking after me she will be going back into the sea, leaving me and not coming back. She tells me it is not because she does not love me, but it is the seals way of doing things. But she says I will be fine with all the other young pups as I wait for my grown-up fur to arrive. Mummy says it might itch a bit, but I can rub my back on the sand and stones. Then I will be ready to learn to swim and fish for my own food. So I won’t be worried about staying on the beach alone and lazing around until I get my new big girl coat. I hope I get one with spots on.
Love Sally x
Do You Like Colouring In?
Here is a little seal picture to colour in.
Seal Poem
This lovely poem is by 7-year-old Leo da Molin from Corton Primary School in Suffolk. It was sent in by his proud mum after it was published in a Young Writers journal called My First Acrostic Poem. Well done Leo.
Acrostic Seal Poem by Leo da Molin
S ee the seal on Horsey Beach
E ating, relaxing and having a sleep
A lways stay out of reach
L et them rest but have a peep
S oon the weeks pass
A nd the pups are released
N ew life is here so
D ogs must be kept on a leash
P ups need time to grow their fur
U nder water soon and not a stir
P lease listen to the Warden’s rules
S tay away and they’ll be cool
Flying Ring Toys
Please tell your grown-ups never to take flying rings onto the beach. If they get lost in the sea, a seal can easily get them stuck around their necks and they can’t get them by off themselves. It can hurt them a lot as they grow bigger and bigger and it gets tighter and tighter. The solid frisbee type ones are fine. It is fine to play with flying rings in the park or your garden. Kirstie Swinnerton has done this lovely drawing for you.
