Story: Seals

Southern elephant seals

Southern elephant seals

Southern elephant seals can occasionally be seen along South Island coasts. These males have tooth scars from repeated territorial fights, but outside the breeding season they seem able to relax together. They are better viewed from a safe distance; all seals can move surprisingly fast on land, and if annoyed can inflict serious bite wounds which become badly infected. Human bacteria can also be harmful to them.

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Photograph by Christina Troup

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How to cite this page:

Lloyd Spencer Davis, 'Seals - Seal watching', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6181/southern-elephant-seals (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Lloyd Spencer Davis, published 12 Jun 2006