England: Farne Islands – Gray Seals
Farne Islands are also famous for one of the largest colonies of gray seal on Europe and the world – over 6,000 animals. These are fairly large seals – 2–2.3 m (6–7.5 ft) long and 170–310 kg (370–680 lb) in weight. Prolific fish feeders that can dive to large depth, they often haul themselves out on the rocks, and can be seen in many spots on the cliffs of the Outer Farne Islands. They are fully protected in England (but not in Northern Ireland), and don’t seem afraid of humans at all (unlike what I saw just a few weeks ago in the arctic where seals would dive as soon as they see a human in far distance).
