Description
The females arrive at the rookery for birthing and breeding season starting in December. Within a week of arriving, they give birth to their pup. They nurse their pup with fat rich milk, only for 28 days. After this, the pup is weaned from mothers milk. The mother will mate with an alpha male, and return to the sea. The weanling will stay on the beach another 6-8 weeks learning to swim and developing physiology that is needed for its official life as an elephant seal.
The mother will recognize the pups vocalizations immediately after birth, and the pup will recognize its mothers voice within a week after being born. It is essential they know each others voice so as not to get separated on the busy rookery during the birthing season.
- Approximately 3.5” wide x 2.5” tall.
- Name Dropped: San Simeon, California, Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
