"Elephant Seals Return to P.G. " by Animal Blog

Elephant Seals Return to P.G.

January 24, 2012

A small number of elephant seals were sighted along a Pacific Grove Beach last week, a clear indication that species' breeding season has begun.

According to marine biologist Dr. John Pearse, those sighted are most likely “young males who are not ready for the fighting arena on the rookeries at Ano Nuevo, San Simeon and elsewhere.”

Excessively hunted for their blubber which was rendered to power oil lamps, elephant seals were thought to be extinct in the northern hemisphere by the late 1800s. Fortunately, a small colony of fewer than 100 seals on Guadalupe Island survived the slaughter due to the protection of the Mexican government. The elephant seal has been making a triumphant comeback thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

Elephant seals spend 8-10 months at sea, diving to great depths to feed on Humboldt squid and avoid great white sharks and other predators. In late November, colonies of seals return to the same rookery each year in order to mate, give birth, and molt. The females form harems and huge males loudly and viciously battle for mating rights.

The nearest colony of elephant seals primarily resides within the Piedras Blancas rookery in the southern range of Big Sur, near San Simeon, which is home to nearly 8000. However, some locals are concerned that a rookery might eventually be established along the Monterey Bay, though many with experience handling elephant seals believe the site to be too small.

“Although they could be quite an attraction for our sleepy little town of Pacific Grove; they are noisy, smelly, and can be really nasty to each other,” according to Pearse.