Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) are named after the huge trunk-like nose on the males and make sounds that sound like a gurgling drain. They are the largest non-whale predators – males weigh up to three tonnes and adult females between 300-900 kg. Elephant Seals spend most of their lives at sea and are prodigious divers, reaching depths of 2 kilometres and staying down for two hours. They come to land to breed (October-November) and to moult (January to April).

Elephant Seal pups are 40 kg at birth and are weaned in 24 days by which time they weigh 120 kg or more. These ‘weaners’ remain ashore until March-April, then go to sea without any instruction on how to survive or catch food. Weaners are very curious and often allow a close approach by humans and even approach people themselves, sticking their noses right into camera lenses. This weaner on the beach at St Andrew’s Bay was curious about my video tripod and began exploring it with its mouth. Fortunately, no damage was done.