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Believe it? Smiling seal with relaxing expression

2009-10-20 11:06 BJT

As he rolls about with an ear-to-ear grin and furry flippers clutching his capacious tum, something clearly seems to have tickled this chap.

Nature photographer Michael Hutchinson captured the memorable moment on a beach at Donna Nook, near Louth in Lincolnshire.
Nature photographer Michael Hutchinson captured the memorable moment on a 
beach at Donna Nook, near Louth in Lincolnshire.

Was there a particularly good joke circulating among the seafaring community? Apparently not. According to the experts, the 35-stone bruiser was probably just yawning.

Nature photographer Michael Hutchinson captured the memorable moment on a beach at Donna Nook, near Louth in Lincolnshire.

The grey seal is Britain's largest native mammal and the bulls can grow to 9ft long. UK numbers have risen from just 500 in 1914 to 182,000 today - representing half the world's population.

Though scientists have found no evidence of smiling seals, previous research has suggested that animals including chimps, dogs and rats are capable of laughter.

Editor: Zheng Limin | Source: CCTV.com