Elephant seals are not locals. This one (probably) fell off his iceberg, got turned around and then swam north instead of south… for like two weeks*. Which leads me to gender-specify them (because stubbornly refusing to ask for directions, a trait hardwired into certain chromosomes is a well known and widely accepted determinator of sex).
*I’m just making up travel times between here and Antarctica.
Exhausted he decided our little beach was a good place to chill. Despite the weekend thoroughfare of beach goers, surfers and onlookers. (Although apparently, there are Orcas around again, which may explain some reticence on the part of this high-caloried individual to go back into the water)
They’re basically giant sea-bassets. (another astute and likely accurate deduction on my part). Honed through years of hound-ownership. I know one when I see one.
Eventually someone official turned up with cordon tape and a sign and the area around the seal was demarcated as a safe-space. Sealed off as it were. Not that the Elephant seal respected this particular boundary. (I suspect it has libertarian tendencies)
It amuses me that in a municipal store-room somewhere there is a sign that can be dusted off and utilized for just such an eventuality. I suppose this might put pause on an idea to approach the somewhat benign-lookin’-fur-puddin’, get down on your haunches and take a selfie. There’s always someone willing (unbeknownst to them) to risk life and limb for likes and glory. And if you’ve ever seen the incredible violence Elephant Seals can inflict on one-another, you probably know this isn’t the greatest of ideas. Still, the average intelligence quotient isn’t great, especially down here and it’s probably prudent to suggest to the proletariat what might not be wisest course of action.
He probably wont find his way back home. And although quite rare for them to end up this far north, they are readily accepted into to the the Cape Fur Seal colonies without much hullabaloo, with some historical precedent having been set in the past. I take comfort in the idea that if he doesn’t get eaten or maimed he can still be social and lead a good life.
In any event nice to have seen a foreigner enjoying our beach for the day. (Usually they just make me grumpy and hostile). *mutter*
Go Darke 