The Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) is the largest non-whale marine carnivore. Males grow up to about six metres (20 feet) long and weigh up to four tonnes (8,800 lb). Males form harems in the beaches of Antarctica and subantarctic islands, such as South Georgia. The pregnant females arrive around October and give birth to pups weighing around 40 kilograms (88 lb). The pups begin suckling immediately on their mother's 'rocket fuel' milk, and are weaned after about 23 days, by which time they weigh around 130 kilograms (290 lb). They are then called 'weaners' and are abandoned by their mothers, who return to sea. The weaners are sociable, often lying in contact with each other and practising swimming. They live off their fat reserves until late summer (January-February in the. Southern Hemisphere), and then go to sea to fend for themselves.

The weaner pups are very curious, and readily approach people when they land on the beaches of the subantarctic islands. This one was determined to make friends with the photographer on the beach of St Andrews Bay, South Georgia. One kept coming so close that the photographer was struggling to get a shot!