Driving southbound along the Big Sur coast we almost missed them. We knew that they were somewhere there in the beaches of Piedras Blanca. But we were not sure exactly where. But when we saw something really big and gray moving on the beach, we understood that was the place. We stopped the car and like kids we rushed to the beach. And when we got there we found that the Elephant Seals are even bigger of what we have ever imagined ...
Tina loves elephants, and in few minutes she had definitely developed a pretty good chemistry also with their aquatic version, the elephant seals. Or maybe were were just reckless ...
I read that these guys can weigh up to 2.5 tons. I am not really an elephant seal expert, but I think these guys were really heavy. At a certain point I guess we got a little bit too close and they got nervous. One of them run after us. Tried to charge us. It was hilarious. These guys are big, but also pretty fast ...
... so we had to seriously run. Fortunately they can speed up for no more than 10 - 15 meters. After that they have to stop. I guess. Or at least they stopped on Sunday. For speed and size they could perfectly fit in a American football field. Ehehehe. They are definitely amazing animals. Even the noise that they make when they try to charge is so peculiar. Sounds like they have a rolling stone in their mouth.
Here it is my favorite yellow shirt hero playing with a pup. Not sure who started singing, but definitely the pup won the competition ...
... and here some other random pictures from the beach. It was definitely a great experience to see these incredible animals close by ...
These are really fantastic animals and this colony is really something amazing. This is the view of the beach. And consider that now most of them already left.
They went north. Fishing and swimming and having some fun. Apparently they can dive up to 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) below the sea level. That to me is absolutely amazing! They will come back next year. But some of them won't make it back. In order to be able to come back they will need to stay away from their predators, sharks and orcas.
Tina loves elephants, and in few minutes she had definitely developed a pretty good chemistry also with their aquatic version, the elephant seals. Or maybe were were just reckless ...
I read that these guys can weigh up to 2.5 tons. I am not really an elephant seal expert, but I think these guys were really heavy. At a certain point I guess we got a little bit too close and they got nervous. One of them run after us. Tried to charge us. It was hilarious. These guys are big, but also pretty fast ...
... so we had to seriously run. Fortunately they can speed up for no more than 10 - 15 meters. After that they have to stop. I guess. Or at least they stopped on Sunday. For speed and size they could perfectly fit in a American football field. Ehehehe. They are definitely amazing animals. Even the noise that they make when they try to charge is so peculiar. Sounds like they have a rolling stone in their mouth.
Here it is my favorite yellow shirt hero playing with a pup. Not sure who started singing, but definitely the pup won the competition ...
... and here some other random pictures from the beach. It was definitely a great experience to see these incredible animals close by ...
These are really fantastic animals and this colony is really something amazing. This is the view of the beach. And consider that now most of them already left.
They went north. Fishing and swimming and having some fun. Apparently they can dive up to 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) below the sea level. That to me is absolutely amazing! They will come back next year. But some of them won't make it back. In order to be able to come back they will need to stay away from their predators, sharks and orcas.
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