tiabunna's photos with the keyword: Mirounga leonina

This seal pup would have been two to three months old - they grow incredibly quickly. Strictly speaking it should be called a Southern Elephant Seal - but often they are referred to simply as "Ellies". That mucus on the nose is common and of no apparent significance. From the Australian Antarctic Division website: "Pups weigh about 40 kg at birth and are weaned after 24 days by which time they weigh on average 120 kg. A large weaner may weigh in excess of 220 kg."

From an old slide. This is an immature Southern Elephant Seal putting on a threat display. He's probably about two years old, with what looks like a moulting female resting behind. Surrounding him is some of the giant kelp which grows around the shores of Macquarie Island and is tangled around the beaches.

From an old slide. Toward the end of winter, the bull elephant seals arrive and stake out "their" patch of beach to establish a harem. This is a mature bull with the fully developed extended nose which leads to their name. Yes, the island does have reasonably frequent "freeze-ups" during the year, most for only several days. Best viewed on black.

Young male elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) spend their days either sleeping or practicing fighting (done by bashing together, as was happening here till I interrupted). Fighting skills will become important later in life, when they try to attain "Beachmaster" status. From an old Kodachrome slide taken with a Minolta SR1 and Auto Rokkor 1.4 58mm lens..