It might not rank atop the list of incredible sightings marine mammal enthusiasts have logged off Southern California during the past several months. But the sighting of a very young northern elephant seal in King Harbor in Redondo Beach is noteworthy and unusual.
The accompanying images were captured Monday afternoon by Alisa Schulman-Janiger, from aboard the Voyager, before the vessel embarked on a journey to investigate reports of killer whales.
"The boat was still tied to the dock," Schulman-Janiger said. "Someone shouted seal and then another passenger, Natalie [Booth-Massey], said 'Ellie' for elephant seal and I thought, 'No way.' "
Northern elephant seals are occasionally spotted in Southland waters, but in California they're far more common off the Central Coast, where seal rookeries attract great white sharks.
The sighting of an elephant inside a Southland harbor can be considered to be very rare.
It's not known what the elephant seal was doing inside King Harbor. But the marina attracts lots of small fish and its entrance is not far from the inner-portion of the Redondo submarine canyon.
Schulman-Janiger said the seal was less than a year old--pups typically are born in early winter--and her photographs reveal the telltale long whiskers and a stylish tuff atop the mammal's head.
Elephant seals are incredible pinnipeds, capable of diving to depths of 5,000 feet and holding their breath up to two hours.
Once thought to be extinct because of commercial hunting, thousands now utilize Central Coast rookeries. The National Marine Fisheries Service website states that "the most recent estimate of the California breeding stock was approximately 124,000 individuals."
Schulman-Janiger said Voyager passengers did not spot killer whales during their excursion, but they did see two gray whales and several common dolphins.
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