Took hundreds of photos today of this remarkable animal.
As I wrote in my book: I am helplessly in love with elephant seals. I never tire of watching their antics, which range from those of an affable dog to a curmudgeonly grandfather to a boastful prizefighter. They sound constantly annoyed with their barks and yells, yet enjoy cuddling together while napping on the beach. For some people their incomplete elephant’s trunk of a nose is a barrier to admiration, but I find it ridiculously cute-ugly. Jacques Cousteau, in his 1974 book Diving Companions, wrote about his affinity for the creature: “At the beginning, the animal seemed unattractive, even repulsive….Yet, we ended by experiencing a real sympathy for these giants who are the victims of their own size. We discovered their virtues, their courage and tenderness, and love of freedom."