Female displays site fidelity 3 years running

Mature female, S112 'Ghost X', has returned to the same adjacent bays 3 years running to rear her pup. This is an exciting and interesting development in our knowledge about seals in this region as it demonstrates both female site fidelity & annual pupping.

• In 2003, S112 and her pup were first seen in front of the middle cave on the haul out beach on 05/11/03. The pup's umbilicus was still visible, so it was estimated to be about 3 days old, giving the pup a date of birth around 02/11/03.
• In 2004, S112 and her pup were first seen in the next cove east on 31/10/04. The pup was estimated to be about 9 days old, giving the pup a date of birth of 22/10/04.
• In 2005, S112 and her pup were first seen in the same cove as the previous year on 22/10/05. The pup was thought to be around 5 days old, giving it a date of birth of 17/10/05.

This is a considerable achievement, as S112 has mated, fed herself well to restore her body condition enough to implant her fertilised embryo, managed a full term pregnancy & timed her return from sites unknown to arrive at the same location to give birth and successfully rear her pup 3 years running! S112 has had her pup approximately 2 weeks earlier than she did 3 years ago.

(NB Scale of images altered.) S112 & Pup 2003E (Left) : S112 & Pup 2004E who was huge! (Mid) : S112 & Pup 2005K (Right.)