Northern elephant seal

The northern elephant seal is a captivating marine mammal belonging to the Phocidae family. These seals are remarkable in size, with males reaching up to 3,700 kg and measuring 4-5 meters in length. Females are significantly smaller, weighing between 400-900 kg. They follow a polygynous mating system, meaning that a single dominant male can mate with up to 50 females in one breeding season.

You’ll primarily find northern elephant seals in the eastern Pacific Ocean, where they spend most of their lives at sea. They come ashore only for breeding, giving birth, and molting. These activities occur at rookeries situated on offshore islands or secluded mainland beaches, particularly in California and northern Baja California. Interestingly, males and females have distinct feeding habits: males dive to the ocean floor to hunt benthic organisms along the continental shelf, while females forage for pelagic prey in the open ocean.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, these seals were hunted nearly to extinction. Thankfully, conservation efforts have facilitated their population recovery, and today there are over 100,000 northern elephant seals. However, their previous genetic bottlenecks make them more susceptible to diseases and environmental changes.

Northern elephant seals boast unique adaptations. For example, they can store oxygenated red blood cells in their spleens, aiding in deep diving. They also communicate using a variety of vocalizations and behaviors. During the breeding season, males often fight for dominance. Females have a challenging role as well—they fast for five weeks while nursing their pups and mating before returning to the sea. The pups are nursed for about four weeks and then abruptly weaned, left to fend for themselves.

Thanks to ongoing conservation initiatives, the northern elephant seal population continues to grow, particularly in California. These seals are now protected under various regulations to ensure their continued thriving.