Grey Seal
Grey Seal
Oceans
ABout Grey Seal

GREY SEALS MAY NOT BE BUILT FOR SPEED ON LAND, BUT IN THE WATER THEY CAN SWIM MORE THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR!

These marine mammals are streamlined for speed with torpedo-shaped bodies and rear flippers that help propel them when they swim, while their front flippers have long claws they use to tear into food.

Native to the coasts of the northern Atlantic Ocean, grey seals can be recognized by their arched Roman nose, which earned them the name they are also known by — horsehead seal.

Oceans Stamp
FACTS & STATISTICS
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average size
7.5 to 10 feet, weight 550 to 880 pounds
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native region
Eastern Coastal New England and Canada, Iceland, Coastal Northern Europe
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eating habits
Fish, squid, crustaceans
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Conservation status
Least Concern
Conservation Efforts for Grey Seal

What Can You Do?

Everyone has the power to help save wild things and wild places. That power is your individual voice, your awareness and your actions. So in addition to visiting the Zoo and meeting our animal ambassadors, here are a few simple suggestions that will help save their counterparts in the wild.

  • Reduce the energy consumption in your home by unplugging electronics and small appliances when they’re not in use, and by adjusting your thermostat 2 degrees up in the summer and down in the winter.
  • Drive smart and drive less. Shut off your car when it will sit idle for more than 10 seconds, like in the drive-thru or when loading/unloading passengers. Carpool and take mass transit when you can.
Come see for yourself.

Look no further. Connect with our amazing animals and learn about the wild places they come from.

WHERE ARE THEY AT THE ZOO?
The Grey Seals are located in the Oceans Exhibit.
View Map View Oceans