Right Whale Bay and Rosita Harbour, South Georgia

Salamander
Wed 1 Nov 2017 07:16
Stunned, just stunned; wildlife everywhere with carnage, bones and smells. Massive elephant seals (one of the few animals that smells better dead) spent much time fighting, snorting and posturing. The beach master will protect his harem against all males attempting to muscle in. Every female selected for mating looks resigned and unhappy (massive dimorphism).

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2 females bicker

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battlescars on a beach master

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 snoozing

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baby elephant seal

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 giant petrel

Penguins follow you, curiosity unbounded. Baby kings clumped together until one smaller one is selected by the giant petrels, its fate sealed as they peck and peck. Time and again this valiant ball of fluff can only stand, try to hide and fail. After minutes, time that seems so much longer the chick falls for the last time and the petrels move in for the kill.

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King penguin chick



Rosita Harbour was more carnage as an elephant seal had a stillbirth.


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Giant petrel having fed

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 stillborn seal being fought over

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 Beach master scaring Caroline

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 more elephant seal teeth

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 more slumbering

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 King penguin soup

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 Blondie preening (actually leucistic fur seal)

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 what a nose,

What a day!