These seals come onto the beach here to moult from April until August. They endure what is called a “çatastrophic moult” which means that they shed all of their fur within a few weeks.
The male elephant seals have a proboscis, which is what gives them their name, and can weigh up to 5,000 lbs.
Females don’t have a proboscis, and weigh up to 1,600 lbs.
The seals have thick rolls of blubber to insulate themselves against icy water temperatures. So in seals, fat rolls are a desirable attribute.
The males would occasionally indulge in some half-hearted tussles, keeping in practice I suppose.
The females were singularly unimpressed by these macho displays, perhaps because the breeding season was over.
This young black male put on an impressive show of teeth…..
….then he snuggled down between his large brown moulting opponent and the other seals.
This little birds were hopping in and out of the moulting seals. Feathering their nests?
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