California Elephant Seal Colony

                      Drove up past San Simeon a few miles to the elephant seal colony on highway 1. While the big males had left already for Alaska, there were plenty of 2000 lbs females with the current group of young'ens born in January still on the beach.

Not all males have left already.

Mama relaxing. For every pound the pup adds by nursing the mother loses 2 pounds. So while the pup gains 300 pounds the first month the mother will lose 600 lbs.

Only a month old but already close to 400 lbs and independent.

Not all make it but they do contribute to the rest of the environment.