English: Seals at Horsey An annual spectacle on the beach at Horsey is seal weaning. During December and January, a three kilometre stretch of beach is covered with some 500 Atlantic Grey Seals.

After mating the previous year, the females come here to wean the new-born calves for about three weeks. Then they abandon the calves, who fend for themselves for a further one to four weeks before their coats are sufficiently waterproof for them to enter the sea without drowning. During that time they do not have a source of food, so live on the reserves of fat they have gained during weaning. At any one time during this period the beach is covered with seals at various stages of the cycle, including males who have come to mate with the females to start the next 11-month gestation cycle. The beach is cordoned off, with viewing platforms provided, and this information is taken from one of the adjacent notice boards. The public are prevented from venturing onto the beach, but sometimes the seals come up onto the marram-grass covered dunes and can get close to the human visitors.

This is a young seal about halfway through its waiting period between weaning and being able to enter the sea.