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What causes young harp seals to enter the water and begin feeding on their own?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
A mother harp seal and a young “whitecoat.” Adult harp seals are gray with black spots. Young harp seals are called “whitecoats,” “bedlamers,” “beaters,” or “graybacks,” depending on their age.
harp seal A mother harp seal and a young “whitecoat.” Adult harp seals are gray with black spots. Young harp seals are called “whitecoats,” “bedlamers,” “beaters,” or “graybacks,” depending on their age.

Young harp seals are motivated to enter the water and begin feeding on their own due to hunger.1

Following a 12-day nursing period, weaning occurs abruptly when the female stops nursing to mate with males. After weaning, the pups do not feed for up to six weeks, during which time they may lose more than 50 percent of their body mass. Eventually, this state of hunger drives the pups to enter the water to start hunting for themselves.1