This giant northern elephant seal is the "beachmaster", meaning he has to protect his harem of females from rival males to maintain his dominance and mating rights. This often leads to bloody battles... | BBC Earth

Northern Elephant Seal pups are being born along the California coast! 🦭 Meet some of our ocean’s newest residents. From late December through early February, Northern Elephant Seal pupping season is in full swing. Mothers spend about a month nursing a single pup, providing nutrient-rich milk that helps them grow from ~70–80 lbs to nearly 300 lbs in just a few weeks. After this brief nursing period, pups head to the ocean for the very first time — curious and completely new to the world. Northe