CambriaVacation

Elephant Seal

Elephant seals that are common to the Central Coast of California near Cambria and Hearst Castle, take their name from the great size of their bodies and the large proboscis of the adult males (bulls) which resembles an elephant's trunk.

 A Piedra Blanca Elephant Seal bellows his declaration of territorial superiority.

The bull's proboscis-> nose to you and me :)  makes a very loud roaring noise during the mating season, when the male seals rarely leave the beach for several months. Elephant seal males ( bulls) reach a length of about 18 ft and a weight of 5,000 lbs ! The females, (cows), generally reach about 10 ft and approximately 1,430 lbs.

Elephant Seals near Cambria California 

Piedras Blancas Elephant Seals

Elephant seals spend almost 80 %of their lives in the ocean and can hold their breath for more than 80 minutes. The elephant seal can dive to 1500 meters deep into the ocean for about twenty minutes, yet some dives can last for up to two hours ! Elephant seals thrive on shark, eel, squid, octopus and other marine life.

Hundreds of Elephant seals and their elephant seal pups on the beach near Cambria can be seen and photographed for several months especially during the mating season in winter up until the month of March when they return to the sea

Female elephant seals give birth starting between the ages of 3–4, and can live up to 20 years.

Male elephant seals most actively pursue mating between the ages of 9 and 12 and generally live to about the age of 14 years.