largest land mammal

[buckle-bugs]

Hi
Being a little picky after our team narrowly lost a pub quiz, but the question was " largest land mammal in UK , and its not what you think folks!!!" so we tried thinking outside the box , did they want Red deer. or one of the native breeds of equine. ?Chillingham white cattle a whale perhaps??
But no, the answer is apparently grey seal. !!!
any comment?? ( we would have lost anyway , the footie questions all ways finish us off)

[Dogs]

Well, Im on your side! Id say Red deer myself, as the seal is amphibious and cant really be described as a land mammal. the chillingham cattle are no longer wild, and are enclosed now, so, for me, that dont count either! However.... reindeer have been re-introduced into the cairngorms.... would they count as the largest?

all the best

D

[Dogghound]

It is a bull grey seal, males can reach 315kg, a red deer stag would be about 260kg maximum in Britain, in captivity they can get over 350kg. Reindeer are relatively small but stocky deer they are only 150kg-ish in comparison alot less than red.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

It is a bull grey seal, males can reach 315kg, a red deer stag would be about 260kg maximum in Britain, in captivity they can get over 350kg. Reindeer are relatively small but stocky deer they are only 150kg-ish in comparison alot less than red.

Bull Grey Seals can get up to 440kg, so they win hands down on weight, IF one accepts them as land mammals.

henrya

[earthdragon64]

Originally Posted by Dogs

Well, Im on your side! Id say Red deer myself, as the seal is amphibious and cant really be described as a land mammal. the chillingham cattle are no longer wild, and are enclosed now, so, for me, that dont count either! However.... reindeer have been re-introduced into the cairngorms.... would they count as the largest?

all the best

D

The Reindeer in the Cairngorms are a bit smaller than Red Deer.

Regards, Audrey.

[Dogs]

Originally Posted by earthdragon64

The Reindeer in the Cairngorms are a bit smaller than Red Deer.

Regards, Audrey.

thanks audrey, my mistake, only time ive seen them was at some petting zoo when i was a kid lol, but ive handled hundreds of reds, thanks for correcting me!

all the best

D

[pressld2]

So what about New Forest, Dartmoor or Exmoor ponies? I don't know how they'd compare with a bull grey seal for weight but the bigger question is are they native wild animals. We've now got Konik ponies in the UK too.

For what it's worth I would class seals as land mammals as they haul out regularly and have to give birth on land, unlike the cetaceans.

Dave P.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by pressld2

So what about New Forest, Dartmoor or Exmoor ponies? I don't know how they'd compare with a bull grey seal for weight but the bigger question is are they native wild animals. We've now got Konik ponies in the UK too.

For what it's worth I would class seals as land mammals as they haul out regularly and have to give birth on land, unlike the cetaceans.

Dave P.

new forest ponies weigh between 300-500 kg so they might just edge it - however they are not wild per se , rather free roaming grazing stock , so if we are going to include them we should also include other stock (as the question doesnt say anything about wildlife, just the largest uk land mamal) - in which case shire horses would have it hands down (unless we are very litteral minded and include zoos and safari parks in which case it is definitely a heffalump)

[Dorts]

Exmoor Ponies are certainly wild and are thought to be one of the oldest and purest breeds of horse in the world. Not one of the biggest breeds, but certainly native.
Dorts.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Dorts

Exmoor Ponies are certainly wild and are thought to be one of the oldest and purest breeds of horse in the world. Not one of the biggest breeds, but certainly native.
Dorts.

again its debateable whether they are wild, or owned by someone, but its not germane anyway as they are on 360kg or so anyway so definitely not heavier than a bull grey seal