ElephantSeals

The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal rookery is just north of San Simeon CA off Hwy 1.
The males (with the trunk-like snout) are 14-16 feet long and weigh up to 2.5 tons.
The females are 10-12 feet long and weigh 1200-2000 pounds. The pups are
about 75 pounds at birth, and grow to 250-300 pounds in less than a month
on their mother’s (or another female’s) rich milk. Females often battle for
territory or pups, and the enormous males battle violently to establish
dominance, as only the most dominant males successfully breed.

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Seals (Direct Link)

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Elephant Seal 3922

A male Northern Elephant Seal drags its three ton mass out of the Pacific Ocean onto the beach at Piedras Blancas.

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Elephant Seal 3930

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Elephant Seal 3936

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Elephant Seal 3941

Elephant Seals get their name from the proboscis of the adult male, used as a rebreather and to produce a very loud roar.

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Elephant Seal Siesta 3880

A young adult male Elephant Seal takes a nap.
This would be considered to be a diminutive nose.

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Elephant Seal 3895

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Elephant Seal 3899

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Elephant Seal 3901

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The Elephant Seal drags its 3 ton mass around on land using its front flippers, which it also uses to throw sand on its back.

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A bull Elephant Seal tosses sand on its back for protection from the sun at Piedras Blancas beach near San Simeon.

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An Elephant Seal female tries out its cute look on a bull, possibly hoping to avoid being squished like a bug by the enormous three ton bulk of the adult male Elephant Seal.

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The female then calls out to the male. Hmmm... it is beginning to look as if she may have something else in mind.

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Elephant Seals 3976

A little while later, it seems as if the female has gotten exactly what she was looking to get from the male.

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Elephant Seals X4385

Two young male Elephant Seals on the beach at Piedras Blancas near San Simeon, CA.

Elephant Seals spend up to 80% of their time in the water, and can hold their breath for 90 minutes
or more. This allows them to dive as deep as 7800 feet, although they typically dive 1000-2000 feet.

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Elephant Seal X0206

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Elephant Seal X0215

A female Elephant Seal climbs out of the water (left) and throws sand on her back before her nap.

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Elephant Seal Who ME X0219

A female Elephant Seal scratches at her molting outer skin and hair on the beach at Piedras Blancas.

Elephant Seals are protected from the cold water at the depths they hunt (from 1000 to 5000 feet deep)
by the blubber under their fur. The hair and outer layers of skin molt in large patches, during which the seals
are susceptible to the cold, so the Elephant Seals “haul out” to rest on land while they molt in the spring.

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Elephant Seal X0221

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Elephant Seals X0218

Elephant Seals gather in large groups on the beach to rest at Piedras Blancas, which can sometimes endanger small pups.

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Elephant Seal 4006

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Elephant Seals 4023

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Elephant Seal Mother and Pup 4038

A female Elephant Seal shows off her pup to one of her friends.

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Elephant Seal pup 3890

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The pups, which are rather hefty, cannot move around easily.

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Mother Love 3972

A mother Elephant Seal snuggles her pup after defending it in a confrontation with another female.

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Seals (Direct Link)

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Elephant Seal 3960

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Elephant Seal Fighting Display 3949

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Elephant Seal Fighting Display 3962

Elephant Seal females fight to keep the territory around their pups clear and for other reasons.
The confrontations can be quite vocal, but they most resemble a loud schoolyard pushing match.

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Elephant Seal Fight 3964

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Elephant Seal Fighting Display 3974

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Elephant Seal Fighting Display 3979

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Elephant Seal Fight 3983

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Elephant Seal Fight 3989

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Elephant Seal Fight 3986

The seals can get quite loud and vehement, and the sight of two
2000 pound seals throwing their weight around is very impressive.

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Elephant Seal Fight 3999

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There is some occasional biting...

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The seals rear back and slam their weight down on their opponent.
A few of these, with or without a bite, is often enough to end the match.

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Seals (Direct Link)

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