The rick milk that the elephant seals are fed allows them to grow rapidly. The female seals almost appear to 'deflate' in a matter of a few weeks as a result of the body mass lost in feeding their pups. The pups on the other hand, quickly fill out their baggy little black fur skins! Skuas are always close at hand to sneak in and take advantage of milk squirting from the nipple after feeding. They sometimes will even try and harass the pups off the nipple so that they can feed on the milk themselves, such is the value of such as high energy source.
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| Elephant seal pup having a feed. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn |
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| Feeding elephant seal pup. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn |
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| A Skua moves in to steal the milk. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn |
Thanks again to Lionel for great pics.
** My foot is on the mend and I shouls be up and about with my camera again soon!**
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