Elephant Seals Battle For Dominance & Breeding Rights ~ 2.12.19

Video by UrDogNu.   / ojaivalleywildlife   Piedras Blancas Rookery. In late November and early December the adult male seals, weighing over two tons, arrive at the rookery and threaten, intimidate or, if necessary, fight for dominance over a portion of the beach. A dominant or alpha bull emerges from this competition along with a few beta males that are lower in the hierarchy. Through out the six miles of the rookery there are roughly 100 alphas. All of the seals, except nursing pups, fast while in the rookery. The pregnant females begin arriving about mid-Dec forming harems around the alphas. Birthing takes place within a week of arrival. The new pup is born and they nurse for four weeks. During the fourth week, the mother goes into estrus, mates several times and then heads to sea. The seals have only been coming to Piedras Blancas since 1990. One pup was born in 1992 and more than 5,800 were born in the 2018 birthing season.