Seal mating in the Stockholm archipelago

29 February, 2024

It is early morning sometime in the late winter. Out on the islands in the Skarv archipelago in the sea belt outside Stockholm, female seals and seal pups lie close together on the rocks. It’s mating time for grey seals. Sea eagles soar above them, hungry and ready to attack a weak and lonely pup.

For now, the pups have their white fur, the one that allows them to hide in snow and ice. But the snow is no longer there at the end of February and the ice sheet is moving further north.

Now the white pups stand out against the gray rocks. An isolated pup becomes easy prey for the sea eagle.

reportage/redigering: Kajsa Grandell

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