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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.
This page has been temporarily rebuilt using the existing format and images while I work on other sections. It will be redone with new images at a later date.
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website. The Banner below leads to the Wildlife Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Seals (Direct Link)
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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 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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A young adult male Elephant Seal takes a nap. This would be considered to be a diminutive nose.
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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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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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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website. The Banner below leads to the Wildlife Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Seals (Direct Link)
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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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A female Elephant Seal climbs out of the water (left) and throws sand on her back before her nap.
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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 Seals gather in large groups on the beach to rest at Piedras Blancas, which can sometimes endanger small pups.
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A female Elephant Seal shows off her pup to one of her friends.
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The pups, which are rather hefty, cannot move around easily.
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A mother Elephant Seal snuggles her pup after defending it in a confrontation with another female.
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website. The Banner below leads to the Wildlife Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Seals (Direct Link)
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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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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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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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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website. The Banner below leads to the Wildlife Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Seals (Direct Link)
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