Hook-nosed Seapigs

The scientific name of the Grey Seal is Halichoerus grypus. It means Hook-nosed Seapig.

Grey Seal - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey

Everyone needs a rest after eating. I was always told never to go swimming after eating until an hour had passed as otherwise I might get stomach cramp and drown. There’s no scientific evidence for that. The reason children drown is an inability to swim and for adults there’s a large correlation with alcohol intake.

I don’t think this one’s been drinking.

Grey Seal - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey

We almost killed all our Grey Seals. Their population was just 500 in the early 20th Century. There are now more than 120,000 Grey Seals in Britain. That’s 40% of the world’s population.

Grey Seal - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey

We’re still killing them with abandoned industrial fishing gear, called ghost nets, marine pollution and Salmon farms shooting them with rifles.

How could we?

Grey Seal - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey

I’ve spent an hour in full camouflage gear crawling up to the top of this shingle ridge. They know I’m here but have no intention of going anywhere. They’ve decided I’m no threat.

Grey Seal - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey

The only shooting I’m going to do is with my camera.

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