tardis_stowaway (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tardis_stowaway) wrote2010-01-02 02:08 pm
tardis_stowaway) wrote2010-01-02 02:08 pm
No End of Time, just animal squee!
So, prior to watching a new Doctor get born, for my New Year's Day I saw an elephant seal get born! I live near a major elephant seal breeding beach, so I've seen lots of baby seals (and lots of seals getting conceived), but this is the first time I actually saw one giving birth. Very cool! When she was done the crowd applauded.
The baby spent maybe ten or fifteen minutes in this stage with just the tip poking out while the mother alternately pushed and rested.
Success! You can't tell from this photo, but the baby was actually born tail first. Apparently that's not uncommon among elephant seals. Immediately after this she let out some victory barks, then turned around and started nuzzling the new baby.
Then dozens of seagulls descended to eat the afterbirth.
Mom and baby barked at each other for several minutes. They need to learn each other's voices so they don't become separated among the hundreds of seals on the beach. Baby elephant seals have an adorably high-pitched bark.
And finally, just because it's cute, have a photo of a juvenile e-seal scratching its chin.
The baby spent maybe ten or fifteen minutes in this stage with just the tip poking out while the mother alternately pushed and rested.
Success! You can't tell from this photo, but the baby was actually born tail first. Apparently that's not uncommon among elephant seals. Immediately after this she let out some victory barks, then turned around and started nuzzling the new baby.
Then dozens of seagulls descended to eat the afterbirth.
Mom and baby barked at each other for several minutes. They need to learn each other's voices so they don't become separated among the hundreds of seals on the beach. Baby elephant seals have an adorably high-pitched bark.
And finally, just because it's cute, have a photo of a juvenile e-seal scratching its chin.