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 come to land to breed (October-November) and to moult (January to April). Elephant Seal pups weigh about 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. These cute, curious, roly-poly weaners were acting up for the camera on the grass near the derelict Stromness whaling station on the subantarctic island of South Georgia, rolling, sneezing and calling.
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