First seal pups born on the Farne Islands kicks off annual grey seal survey
- The first grey seal pups of the year have been born on the Farne Islands, marking the start of the annual seal pupping season and the National Trust’s monitoring efforts
- National Trust’s rangers will use drone technology to conduct more accurate and less intrusive surveys of the growing grey seal population
- The Farne Islands remain a vital sanctuary for wildlife, with over 3000 seal pups expected this season, highlighting the importance of ongoing conservation work
The first grey seal pups of the season have been born on the remote Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast marking the beginning of the annual seal survey at one of England’s most important island wildlife habitats.
The first pup was spotted on Blue Caps near Longstone Lighthouse in October and pupping season is now in full swing with pups on the beach on Inner Farne, heralding the start of a busy few months for National Trust rangers as thousands of adult grey seals haul up onto the shingle/rocky beaches to find a good place to give birth. The Farne Islands is home to one of the largest grey seal colonies on the east coast of England, with around 3,000 pups born each autumn.
Sophia Jackson, Area Ranger for the National Trust on the Farne Islands, said:
"The arrival of the first pup is always a special moment. It signals the start of our seal monitoring season and reminds us of the importance of the Farnes as a sanctuary for wildlife. This annual monitoring is especially important given that the Islands have the world’s longest running dataset for monitoring this particular species – with a project that began in 1952 by Grace Hickling MBE, a pioneering ornithologist and naturalist whose lifelong dedication to the Farne Islands helped shape modern conservation efforts in Northumberland.
“Each pup born here is a testament to the conservation work we do and the resilience of this species in the face of environmental challenges particularly due to rising temperatures and warming seas."
This year’s survey continues the use of drone technology, working with Dr Richard Beavan from Newcastle University, to count seal pups more accurately and with minimal disturbance. The drones allow rangers to monitor even the most remote islands and to analyse images quickly and efficiently.
Tom Hendry, fellow Area Ranger, added:
"The sighting of the first pup triggers the start of our count, and we’re curious to see if the upward trend in pup numbers continues from 3443 pups in 2019 to 3624 in 2024. The drone gives us an excellent view of the islands and helps us detect pups that might otherwise be missed. It’s a game-changer for how we monitor this growing population."
The Farne Islands are cared for by the National Trust and are a designated National Nature Reserve. They are internationally recognised for their significance to seabirds and marine mammals, including the Atlantic grey seal.
The seal survey will continue through the autumn, with rangers facilitating pup counts every four days, weather permitting, so that drone images can be compared to work out the maximum number of pups present.
Once the count is complete, the data will be analysed by Newcastle University, with results expected next spring.