British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Marine Species Glossary - Common seal - definition

Translation:

Common Seals are found in Scotland and are portrayed as ‘magical creatures’ in stories and folklore. Their large brown eyes and short snout give them a cute appearance. In water, they close their nostrils to prevent water from entering the lungs, and their beautifully adapted bodies allow them to move easily. Under their fur, Common Seals have a layer of fat that keeps them warm and supplies energy. They have flippers that improve their manoeuvrability and a short tail that helps them hunt (they eat various fish) and evade predators. With mottled skin, Common Seals are well camouflaged when in the water. On land, they are much less agile and shuffle about. They usually live in social groups. We have a fascination with seals. Rescued abandoned pups or those that are injured are cared for and released back into the wild with tracking devices to ensure their safety. However, Common Seals face threats from human activity due to climate change and other factors, but they are now protected by law.