Northern Elephant Seals
Twice each year, the magnificent California coastline serves as a destination for one of earth's most remarkable animal migrations as scores of Northern Elephant Seals arrive on western U.S. shores. They arrive in the winter months from December to March to give birth to their young and to mate. The rest of the year, eight to ten months of the year for most of the animals, they are at sea. While at sea, they are solitary and spend their time navigating thousands of miles deep under north Pacific waters as they forage for food. Named for their great size and large, pendulous noses resembling an elephant's trunk that are unique to males, Elephant Seal bulls grow 14-16 feet in length and can weigh as much as 5,500 pounds compared with females who grow 9-12 feet and weigh between 1,000 and 1,800 pounds.
Filmed in stunning high definition, this video was made over a two-day period on December 26-27, 2013 at Piedras Blancas Beach near San Simeon, California. It depicts Elephant Seal bulls clashing in their quest for territory and breeding rights and shows new-born elephant seal pups still in the nursing stages. The video captures all of the natural sounds of the creatures and life in the rookery.