Elephant Seal Harem

Southern Elephant Seals.
This was filmed over an approximate ten minute span on a beach on the sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia. Elephant seals have a harem based breeding strategy. The footage opens with an unwanted satellite bull in contact with a female. She is vocalizing loudly to attract the attention of the beach master bull. He charges from the opposite side of his harem (about 40 metres away) where he has just chased away another interloper. As soon as he goes to the other side of the harem the 1st bull moves back and he has to lumber back to the other side again. Back and forth, he goes determined that no other male will mate with his females. There are approximately 80 females that the beach master is trying to "look after". Really large males can weigh over 4 tons. No wonder he's out of breath.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Seals
• elephant seals
• southern elephant seals
• beach master
• harem
• south georgia
• antarctica
• breeding
• breeding strategy