[CINC] Elephant Seal Pup

[Mr Zalophus]

Colleagues,

Along with the Grays and Commons yesterday, the CX had a nice visit by a
very young Northern Elephant Seal pup.  It stayed on the surface next to
the boat for quite a while, then departed for the deep.
Portraits of this animal are now posted to the boat photo site:

    http://www.condorexpressphotos.com/Other/2012-03-31-SB-Channel/

Captain Dave Beezer, a trained mammal rescue person and CIMWI volunteer,
told the CX guests that the animal was a "weaner."  Pups are born from
December to March.  Mothers nurse their pups for about 28 days then wean
them by rather abruptly heading off and leaving them
to fend for themselves on the beach. At this time the weaners have lost
their newborn black fur and are uniformly brown, and they often form weaner
pods on the beach.  In fairness, mothers need to get back to deep water and
feed, since they have been fasting the entire time they are on the beach
and may have lost 30% of their body weight.

Bob Perry
Condor Express
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