SEALS transform themselves in more ways than one. 鈥淥n land,鈥� says photographer , 鈥渢hey are grumpy and sluggish. Underwater they are dynamic, graceful and often playful.鈥�
The serene pose adopted by this Atlantic grey seal (Halichoerus grypus 鈥� the name means 鈥渉ooked-nosed sea pig鈥�) makes it look as if it is meditating, or performing some kind of underwater yoga. In fact it is probably 鈥渂ottling鈥�, sleeping with its nose pointing upwards. The land in the background is the coast of Lundy, an island in the Bristol Channel between England and Wales, which used to be owned by the Knights Templar. Lundy is part of England鈥檚 first Marine Conservation Zone 鈥� the cornerstone of a new network of Marine Protected Areas that the UK government aims to have in place in 2013.
Mustard took this shot while snorkelling. He designed a large plastic dome for his underwater camera to allow him to photograph above and below the water at the same time.
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If the behavioural transformation that seals go through is remarkable, their physiological changes each year are equally dramatic. Their year is divided between foraging and reproducing. These seals spend months building up their body fat 鈥� they feed mainly on fish, but will also eat lobsters and octopus 鈥� only to burn it up when they are raising their young. One study found that the average pre-breeding weight of grey seals is around 250 kilograms, but this falls to 155 kilograms after they have finished breeding and gone through their annual moult (Journal of Experimental Biology, vol 203, p 2323). That is quite a weight change in a year. The seal diet, anyone?