In today’s episode, we’ll teach you how to cuddle an elephant seal. And tomorrow, we’ll show you how to seal a cuddly elephant.
// Update: video is here now, thanks to alert Cuteporter HollyBeary //
// Stills: //
Mmm-wah, Kathryn M.!
Elephant Seal… Cuddling?!
April 9, 2010 By
Ohh, this reminds me of when Iwas in the Galapagos during seal pup season. It was sooooo hard not to snorgle the pups, especially since they had no fear and came right up to you!
What??? no BLORP tag?
There are far too many things to say about this video. To sum up: Incredible. How could you ever be the same after that?
Oh my GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow… that’s really something!
I don’t know anything about seal behavior, so I have no idea what (she?) was up to, but it really looked in that video like the seal was just being friendly… as if it wanted to climb onto her lap like a massive blubbery flipper-cat. Or perhaps dog?
Very sweet, and maybe a little scary.
OMG, what a beautiful video! That seal sure is a sweetie, wish it was me on that beach.
If you haven’t clicked on the video yet, DO. IT. NOW. Seriously, it is the most amazing thing. Long, but so worth it! Thanks, CO!
KEESSES!
PS Not to be a buzzkill– awesome elephant seal yoga poses, and dig the groovy penguin traffic– but isn’t this kind of dangerous? I mean, I’m assuming she is a wild aminal, she is quite big, and I know from marine zoologists that they have big teeth and powerful jaws. Me scared!
Theresa–my thoughts exactly. I actually know someone who was bitten by a seal while he was tagging it (they were on a ship, there was a sudden wave, and as the ship rolled, sealio slid across the deck and directly into my friend’s thigh) and it was a pretty nasty chomp. Had to get a rabies shot, too, just in case.
I don’t know that wild seal snorgling should be recommended, although see that the woman in the video did a good job of keeping her hands to herself, probably in spite of herself.
I wonder several things:
Does the elephant seal have stinky-fish bref?
Do the other elephant seals think this one is odd for being so friendly to the biped?
Crushed by seal cuteness. HOW much does that seal weigh?
Soooooooo amazing. Love it.
can i please do this right now? the video is AMAZING!
VELVETY! I’m wondering if this is a younger female. According to wikipedia, the female seals get to be about 10 ft long, and I”m not sure she’s that big.
Boy, I wish *I* could have a liquid-eyed big sealio come and sprawl across me!! Sigh. Some people have all the luck. (But I agree that this might be kind of dangerous, if that were a pup.)
i have also heard that seals can be aggressive, and of course they are wild animals with certain instincts. however, i assumed that the woman in the video was not just some tourist, but someone who was familiar with seal behavior, a marine biologist maybe. in any case, it looked like the seal was being purely affectionate – did you see that happy sealio smile of contentment at the end?? aaahn.
Just amazing, and wonderful. The woman indeed did a great job of letting the seal come to her. And she obviously brought care and respect to the table, not fear. The seal reciprocated in kind. That’s a pretty good model for behavior for either inter- or intra- species situations!
Again…. awesome. Thanks for posting this CO!
I can’t believe this hasn’t been said.
Snorkling sealed with a kiss.
I was having a cranky afternoon. Then I watched that video. I am cured. Possibly forever.
Apparently no humans were harmed during filming.
Gotta go… must watch again…
should say,
snorgling sealed with a kiss.
That. was. incredible.
I want to go down and snorgle a seal!! How could she not just pet all OVER that darn thing! Big smile on his face and everything…like aren’t I the CUTEST??
YES! YES YOU ARE!!!
That is how heaven must be like..
big smile
What a blissful place with elephant seals AND penguins! I also agree that while this behavior would usually be discouraged, I’m also very, very jealous of this woman and her up close & personal seal snorgling!
Behavior like this totally makes me think of my dog and how she acts around people, only in her case she’s got a nice long tongue that would have slobbered all over that woman’s face.
Anyway, I can totally see how dogs and seals are related.
Theresa-I bet most Marine Biologists can control themselves most of the time.
Their powerful jaws do help them defend their Ph.D. theses, afterall.
I have never been so jealous of anyone as I am of this woman in the video. Of course it is dangerous- that is one of the reason this is so magical!
Would I do it? In a split second!
I was thinking dog as well. My own dogs do this same thing when sniffing us and other people.
Although this was extremely dangerous (even if she was a wildlife expert), it was a very sweet video.
Loved at the end how the big seal went over her lap. Too cute!
OMG, where is she?? Just hanging out on the beach with penguins and seals, snorgling them at will? IT IS THE LAND OF MY DREAMS!!
OMG! That would be like a religious experience for me. My two favorite animals surrounding me and one totally cozying up to me. Heaven!
Blubber luvs the landlubber
Perhaps this sweet baby is a formerly rehabilitated seal?
“Hey, I know what those two-legged things are! They’re nice, and sometimes they even have food! And the snuggling is nice, too… though I was a lot smaller then.”
So cute! I love all of those rolls, those glorious rolls! The video is fabulous!
@ Gili: According to the video titles, this took place at the Sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia in the South Atlantic Ocean. Official Web site: http://www.sgisland.gs
Amazing. Looks like a juvenile to me, maybe a male since it seems to be doing some of the head up in the air stuff the big boys do. It’s not nearly big enough to be an adult. But I am blown away by this affectionate pup. And the penguins marching around just make it even more unbelievable. Disney couldn’t do it better. My favorite moment was the lifting up of the rear flippers after a kiss!
I’ve been to see the ones at Ano Nuevo many times, but we have to keep our distance there. They’re very cool to see. I still haven’t been during battle season, when the males stake out territory (and females) – on my do list.
OMG. That video made me cry!
I’m not gonna lie…I shed a few tears…what can I say?…I’m a softy for animals. This is amazing!
Gawd. That girl has guts. That thing could TOTALLY bite off her face.
Wow! That was amazing. It made me cry. Lovely.
Now if I book a trip to this place is the snorgling and cuddling guaranteed?
as part of a travel package? yes?
I want to be smooshed by a seal! That just looks so awesome. Pinnipeds are the perfect shape for cuddling. I bet it was a stinky smooch though.
I have been to this place and trust me they do not let the tourists get that close
to the animals. I did notice the ship researchers got very close….but they literally
yelled at us if we got to close. By the way…if you ever get the chance to sail this far south do it! The Antarctic area is more beautiful than you can imagine and you see many many many oh so cute animals….very close up. Not too close but VERY close. I might add that I have sent CuteOverload a butt load of my own very cute photos from this trip….BTW still waiting to see them on here…
I now know what heaven is like – a place where swarms of fluffy puppies and fat velvety seals cuddle with you and cover you with kisses while diks diks and penguins stroll by…
OK, some clever travel agency needs to organize the Six Continent CO Tour. South America: Seal Snorgeling. Asia: Japan’s Cat Cafe. Australia: Platypus-nomming. Africa: Breakfast with Giraffes (really, there’s a house where they show up for breakfast and you feed them.) North America: Musk Ox nuzzling (guest appearance by Squirell Bomb). Europe: Puppy Lick-Fest.
We need a CO Antarctic cruise!
That is one lucky marine biologist. What I think is she was snorgling the penguins earlier and the seal’s trying to figure out what’s up with her penguinbreath
I loved the end when the seal flopped into her lap and fell asleep. Precious!
That belly was just begging for a tickle and a snuggle. But I understand why she didn’t.
Amazing video. Definitely a curious pup. He isn’t really very big compared to the size he’ll to grow to…
So cute, things that make you want to go aaawwweee! but there should be a big disclaimer……..don’t do this.
This lady is lucky she still has a face. These animals are very agressive….if the male of the group had come along, no telling what could have happened.
And I’m really against people being friendly to wild animals, it takes away the animals natural instinct to be afraid and the next person that comes along might not be so nice.
I hear you all. I would be soooooo cautious…I believe in respecting wild animals..I wouldn’t do this…don’t know what they will do esp. in the wild..they may look cute but still, they’re wild animals..period.
OMG, that’s so adorabuhls!!!!
Hahaha.. so that explains it.. My cat must be half seal. She does the nose beep thing and likes to look at me upside down and spraws across me.. Such a cute video!!! I <3 seals!!
I’m surprised he didn’t crush her when he climbed on top of her at the end. Doesn’t he weigh a lot? Too cute!!!
It made me cry.
Such an innocent, cute and blorpular elephant seal!
She is so… I have no words.
That was one of the most beautiful things i’ve ever seen in my life.
Thanks CO for this.
LOL I live in California and Have also Been to Ano Nueve Beach to peruse the sea lions.
They are adorable
The smell is overpowering when we are up above on the cliffs
We also have had many encounters on Docks and along walkways and of course in our Kayak. They are curious creatures., and will follow your kayak in the water it is a bit scary.
They are wild animals and they can be agresive.
They can also be playful.
We try to give them a wide birth on land and keep an eye on them in the water.
They have been known to bite
That said they are extremely cute!
O.O Jealousy is consuming me! I WANT SOME BLORPULAR ACTION!!
Don’t those guys eat penguins? I’m surprised the penguins are so nonchalant…
Okay got to watch the video and OMG could it get any more cute with Interspecies snuggling.. good thing that was a baby Sea lIon. Eeeep!
“I loff you sooooo moishe!!”
That was absolutely the wrong music for that video. 100%, it should have been Marvin Gaye. I’ve been really tryyyyyin’, baaaaaby, tryin’ to hold back these feelings for sooooo long…
Oh, that was amazing! Actually, I liked the music. Does anyone know who/what it was?
This was beautiful! I’d be too chicken to do it myself, but I admire her and I love seals and penguinos. I also second the request for the music…if anyone knows who’s singing or what song it is.
wow!! just watched the video — how marvelous!
Good Lord. That was amazing.
How she managed to not put her arm around the animal’s neck and give it a hug is beyond me. Wow. Scary like others have said, it could have chomped her right in her face.
I love the penguins strolling by too, der der der.
@ Mel, we do need a CO cruise. Exercise class would just be the passengers going “Ehn! Ehn!”. Maru, your cruise director, would be in charge of activities, meaning we would all be jumping in and out of boxes. Doc Dik Dik would be along, because his awesome cuuuteness cures any and all ills. Isaac would merrily try to serve us kittehs in blenders, and then take kittehs out and serve us margaritas while we snorgle the kittehs.
Take us away now Cap’n NTMTOM!
“wide berth”
not “wide birth”
eep.
Well, no way Disney could ever top this…..! through the whole video though I was totally afraid the sealio would inadvertently squuush the fragile blonde ladee…..
I’m glad no one is accusing people of ’nuffing, because this is a case where HOLY CRAP this seems dangerous.
Buuuut, you cannot deny how sweet the video is. I’m very happy this woman got to experience this and that she still has a face.
Having worked with elephant seals (northerns rather than southerns, but I imagine they are quite similar), I will note that while they can be aggressive and give nasty bites, they are also relatively placid on land. The bebehs (which are the majority of what I worked with) tended to just stare at you with totally intelligence-free eyes when you entered their pens. Compare to young sea lions, which would swarm you like a bunch of giant dagger-toothed puppies.
Awesome video…loved it when sealio tried to blorp into her lap and the flipper flappage… just, WOW!!
“intelligence-free eyes”?? Oooh!
you didn’t hear that miss blorpy!
Yes, this video is great and I would love to do the same thing if it was safe. However, I must point out that here in the U.S.A. all marine mammals, elephant seals included, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is a federal crime to approach a marine mammal in a way that affects their wild behavior; interacting with a human falls under that category.
The act is meant to protect the animals from even well-intentioned people. For example, here in Oregon, elephant seal juveniles lay on the beach for a couple weeks during their juvenile-to-adult molt. They have open sores and prefer to stay away from the salt water (wouldn’t you?!) People are often found using buckets to pour salty ocean water on them. Ouch!
Please be safe and be a good example for those that don’t know better. Thanks!
Incredibly cute! I think that might have been the “seal of approval”.
I must say that this woman is very, very lucky, not only for having this elephant seal show such affection,but that the seal did not hurt her, whether intentional or not. This video was absolutely amazing and emotional, music went really well with it along with the sounds of the ocean. Very touching, I feel envious. love to all Qte’s.
That seal’s quite the flirt. Way too cute!
I understand the need to keep people away from interacting with wildlife because of the threats, etc. And I support it, there’s so much risk involved.
However, the experience that woman had is going to stay with her for the rest of her life and probably influence her decisions about what to do with her life for some time to come. She will probably continue to work with seals for some time, and be even more passionate that she was before!
I think back, 100-200 years ago, when the few people who would come into contact with these animals would be able to do this, and would bring back stories of how they did this, and how lucky they were that they would get to. Explorers did so many amazing things back then, at the expense of safety, and had so many wild experiences.
Oh my, so sweet!!!
I’m amazed at how flexible their backs are. And I looove the part where the seal’s lookin’ at her upside down. I wonder if those whiskery kisses were teekly!!
Crushed to death by cuteness? That’s how *I* want to go.
Absolutely amazing video! That truly must have been an incredible moment to experience!
That said, I would now totally like to add a lap seal to my tiny family of 2 lap cats.
NO FAIR !!!!!!
She get’s to do that & I don’t !!!!!
I think considering his mounting of her (and if you look closely at his rigid parts in a few frames) that Berry White music might be more apropos.
Obviously a curious pup trying to create a seal/human hybrid.
Yeah… I have to agree this is more dangerous than cute. If this video ended differently, no one would be saying “awww!”
Love it! Looks like “in love” elephant seal. I don’t know how she managed not to scratch the tummy more. I think the seal would have loved it. I don’t know how safe or wise it is but I wish I could have done it.
It looks like already had no fear of humans.
just saw the video.
wow.
whoa.
speechless.
even though the young mister was, er, telling her how nice her eyes are and all, that it was potentially dangerous, i’d still want to believe that this was just a moment of simple, pure joy, peace & contentment.
sometimes, nature is just like that.
p.s.: what was that song playing to the video?
The song is Adios Ayer by Jose Padilla, but I think the wave sounds over it might have been added.
And, haha, it looks like Seal has done a cover of the song.
I love the backwards baroo in the middle.
I’ve never been so jealous of anyone in my entire life. The vid made me cry for all its innocence and beauty. That would be such a life altering experience. Wow!
glad I watched until he was looking back at her and flipping his tail like a little kid… omg… WAY TOO CUTE.
I just showed this to my husband, and he said “I’m sure animals are just as curious about us as we are about them.” It’s nice to see such open curiosity and affection with no fear, but I certainly get all the caveats that people are mentioning. Everyone might not be as nice as this lady. All seals might not be so goofily gentle. But isn’t it nice that these two had their encounter? P.S. DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME.
P.S. Thanks Jae!
She did a bunch of things exactly right. A partial list:
* She let it come to her rather than approach it.
* She greeted it with SEAL body language (nose touch) rather than the “hands on approach” human instinct would use.
* She was absolutely fearless, which is a necessity in a case like this – an animal can’t tell fear from aggression and will often react to either in the same (CHOMP!) way.
I think her biggest threat wasn’t from that seal at all. It was from one of the big males nearby that might have aggressively “protected” that little one. THAT to me was where the risk was, esp. while she was distracted with the little one. Granted her cameraperson wold have shouted a warning but if the baby was across her legs…
Upshot: yeah, this was risky, but not so much from the cute little snuggler. That wee one wasn’t a threat. Look again, in the background.
Sorry for the comment in triplicate, but I just Google image searched for elephant seals, and am pretty sure this is a female, because of the lack of the distinctive proboscis that gives an elephant seal its name. Or it’s a juvenile. I don’t know my seals so well, but maybe this would explain the lack of aggressiveness?
Man, I just had to watch it again. My gosh they must have Slinkies for spines!
http://www.originalslinky.com/images/slinky.jpg
Just like everyone else has pointed out, I would have been amazed yet frightened at the same time. He/she could have eaten the woman’s face, but it chose not to. I thought it was amazingly cute how it slowly blorped up to her toes, sniffing, and gradually blorped closer and closer to her, giving her the apprehensive “what are you?” look the whole time. By the end of the video, the seal had a look of pure bliss on it’s face as it snuggled close and closed it’s eyes. Obviously the woman has knowledge of animals and didn’t move to touch it…although I have no idea how she had the will-power not to. The seal made it pretty apparent that it enjoyed her company as well. Very sweet video!
Wow! My guess is that the woman is a biologist/scientist/researcher, given the quality of the film and the restraint she shows when the seal approaches. The seal–gotta be a female–just looked curious about this new addition to her beach. This is not another seal, and it is not a penguin. What is it? Is it friendly? And then it’s all, “Mai hooman!”
Noelegy It is an adolescent sea lion. not a baby and not an adult.
IF it was an adult Male or female it would probably not go checking out the Human.
Awwwwwww! Lady and the Blorp! What a sweet day at the beach, two new friends just kind of chillin’ and enjoying life.
I’m glad I was not the only person who had the awww/uh oh reaction. It was a beautiful video but these encounter can turn out very badly. I remember a couple of years ago a well intentioned woman in California I believe tried to move a seal she thought was ill or something and lost her nose as a result.
But yes this video was blorp-tastic!
“Opside-down keeses…they are mah fevret kind of keeses!” Haha! Love it!
“I’m very happy this woman got to experience this and that she still has a face.”
Yes! and Yes!
What a pure moment of inter-speche curiosity and love. Beautiful! But scar-wee! I too have heard of them being unpredictable. The penguins waddling by are hysterical.
See guys, the difference with most of the horror stories mentioned above are that those are “well intentioned” average citizens. As a university student passionately studying zoology, I can totally relate to this woman’s ability to keep her hands to herself. You really have to let the animals come to you, and if its something you truly love and have a gift for, things like this can happen. I got the opportunity to do camp at Busch Gardens a few years ago, and the experience of having Squirrel Monkeys climbing on you by choice and using your finger as a security blanket during a nap will definitely last a lifetime. Of course there’s dangers to it, but that is why the people that do things like this are generally top in their field, someone who really cares about that species and really understands him. You can see in the video that she follows the seal’s lead. Its beautiful. Wow.
Very touching, the seal pup was definitely very happy with his/her new found friend.
About 20% into the video, one of the penguin in the background let loose a big one..
Based on some google research I did, the seal is a juvenile, maybe only a month or two old. If it’s a male, it will eventually grow to ten times that size.
as much as i’d like to see the video, i click the link and it gives me the dreaded “403 Access Forbidden!” page.
btw, saw the video again (like the vast majority of the peeps ’round here) and i don’t think young blorp was trying to mount our human friend.
from my own experience scuba diving, i’ll bet ‘blorp was just being curious, getting familiar and then content. i’ve had fish and other aquatic creatures come up to me and just look, studying me, with a “wth are you?” look on their faces. yes, scuba divers must look like the borg to the fishes and the rest (really, have you ever *looked* at a scuba diver when fully kitted up?), but at the same time they must still be wondering what we are, what we’re doing in their domain, finding us so clumsy and weird looking.
and that song, either in original or remixed version, was just perfect for this video.
what an awesome experience that must have been for this woman.
Wow. I want the love of a young seal.
Er, is it just me, or does the video link now go to a video of a cat making strange noises?
Looks like the video has been pulled…
I never thought I would *ever* be disappointed at the sight of a cat.
Cat video was hilarious, but here’s the youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obYweW86iPU
SO Precious! I trained sea lions for a few years and yes, this was probably not the smartest thing for some one to do, but she was obviously being respectful of the seal and handled the situation very well. Dry seals are sooooo soft and fuzzy! She did a great job refraining herself from smothering the seal! This is definitely one of my new favorite videos EVER!
Thanks Hollybeary! Thought I’d never get to watch vid that everyone was in love with. Going to watch it again… and again…
Sweeter every time I watch, but I have to wonder about transmitting humans’ diseases to marine mammals.
Still, I so envy her!
I have to say, that is the sweetest video I’ve watched in a while. And I don’t think the video of her getting her face ripped off would have made it to You Tube. Well, maybe, but certainly not Cute Overload. Animals are the most amazing creatures. Yes, wild, they can be aggressive and scary but I do agree with a previous poster, I think they also have a curiosity that, if they don’t feel threatened, can lead to wonderful moments like this. I wish I could experience something like this. While watching all I wanted to do was hug the penguins! And at the end, i wanted to curl up around the seal and take a nap.
I’m glad I watched the video yesterday while it was up…a VERY different video is at that link now! (Do check it out, it had me snorting in laughter!)
Yup, kids: don’t try this at home. Yeah, we’re all “awwwww” and “oooooo”. Just remember what’s ‘is name the “Bear Man”, Timmy Treadwell. Well, you are what eats you. Sorry to harsh your mellow.
I would never advocate approaching an animal in the wild. But technically, the seal kind of approached her. I doubt she was expecting the snorgle fest, therefore: OMGCUTEPONIESBBQANDWTFUNICORNS!!1111!!!111!!!
Ok I gotta show you my pics of the elephant seals when we went up to Monterey Calif. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdelorm/471725406/in/set-72157600122617089/
I cant believe that shes doing that! that is SOOOO gross! I would never get that close to one of those… those… ELEPHANT SEALS!!! Look, I love animals, but that is just a little tooooooo close for comfort!
Oh my god. That is just too cute! I agree with the caveat on the YouTube website though, she is obviously experienced in being around and handling these animals, just judging by the way she lets the seal approach her, and how she doesn’t initiate touching the animal. (Where as I, being an unexperienced elephant-seal-cuddler, would totally pounce on it and sink into it’s blorpyness.) And it’s good advice to not disturb an ecosystem or get them too accustomed to humans too.
Other than that – adorable. Lucky lady to have that kind of connection with this adorable blob.
Absolutely anerable! Thank you Holly for posting the YouTube link – the chatty cat was cute, but this was better!!!!
Am I going crazy!? Everyone else saw a video of a seal right? I saw a cat with lullaby music and the cat going “da da blah blah da da ba” every so often.
Oh wow…that’s the SWEETEST thing I have seen in a loooooong time! I can’t believe how affectionate that elephant seal is! It’s unbelievable!
I always have wondered why people and marine mammals have such seemingly natural affinities for one another. It’s pretty interesting considering we don’t interact naturally.
I saw the cat too, Nina……I saw it too.
I am so jealous of the people who got to see the elephant seal video! I clicked and got a cat video, cute but NOT elephant seal-cute.
*pouts*
Seal video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obYweW86iPU
Holly posted it above.
Thanks for the link, Josh N., we’ve updated the post. Video now playing inline.
i just love it. thank you.
JEALOUS!!!!
I NEED TO FIND THIS SEAL PENGUIN BEACHY HEAVEN NOW!
That seal is IN LOVE! I want some fishy sealy snorgle nose nuzzles!!!!!!!
I just had to wipe away tears, this was so sweet!
I like the stealth beep/scritch at about 1:30.
I hope that when the little seal went back to its mom it didn’t get rejected. In the Galapagos the guides told us that if you touch a baby seal and get your scent on it, Mom won’t recognize it anymore and will just abandon it. That said, when you go to Antarctica, what you really want to do is snorgle with the fuzzy baby penguins, and maybe sneak a few into your luggage.
Check out http://www.pmmc.org for pictures of more pennipeds (web-footed) mammals and rules on what to do when you see one on a coast in the United States. Hint: You don’t snorgle it!
Sorry: http://www.pacificmmc.org!
Such a wonderful video. Human and seal in harmony ^_^
CO needs to track this lady down STAT! I must know her story! How brave, scary, wonderful, sweet! I wish I could snorgle an elephant seal- but I think I’d be to scared…
Thank you, thank you, CO, for reposting the vid. Oh my goodness, it is wonderful. Truly a communion of kindred spirits. I think the seal thought she was its mother. PRECIOUS.
A question though: This vid is from Canada and I thought penguins only lived in the southern hemisphere. So is this some kind of private animal sanctuary and not a wild life place?
Two words: Grizzly Man. If you haven’t seen that film (about a man who thought grizzly bears were his friend, and ended up inside the stomach of one of those wild creatures), you should. I don’t think this kind of encounter is good for the person or the animal. Perhaps the next person this elephant seal wants to snorgle will have a club in his hands. There’s a reason why there are laws against getting within 100 feet of seals and other animals in the sea!
Awwww – She did everything right, although I have no idea how she managed to resist skritching or snorgling. My hands are twitching just THINKING about it.
But the seal was the one initiating all the action, and was simply curious and friendly once the weird thing on its beach seemed to be safe.
I’ll bet it has stinky fish breath though.
I have to agree with many…as sweet and adorable it is, I was very scared for her.
But, if experienced marine biologists, zoologist know how to do this without something horrific happening, more power to them.
Some day, the whole earth will be as peaceful as that.
Wow! It would’ve been awesome to be that woman during her elephant seal cuddling.
Although, honestly, that blorper’s snout prolly smelled really bad.
SO *SCARY*!!
I held my breath for that woman, just waiting for the chomp!
Endearing video, though, now that I’ve read the comments, I have to finish it.
I’m so afraid some kid will watch this video, and then wander up to sea lions on the beach.
The point, I think, is that this is a juvenile yet old enough not to need the mother for feeding. Most animals, including us humans are curious about other creatures. Yes, it sometimes manifests itself in violent ways; sometimes it doesn’t. I have the greatest envy of this very lucky woman.
So terribly sad that there are those out there who abuse and mistreat these lovely animals.
On a side note, the German word for seal is “Seehund”, which literally translates as sea dog. Just look at those sweet Spaniel eyes, and you’ll see why!
I wonder if the lady is a selkie at a family reunion?
Looks like heaven to me…laying on the beach surrounded by seals and penguins!
LOVE how the seal twiddles his toeflippers with happiness.
“I have only just met you, and I love you!”
Aw man. I was about to leave some snarky comment from Arrested Development but that cuddling made me awwwwww. They did everything but spoon. BTW, I love the strolling penguins all “nothing to see here, Albie’s just got a new girl.”
*sigh* I miss being so flexible I could touch my head with my flippers, uh, toes.
I wasn’t sure if we determined how old the seal was. Couldn’t have been full grown.
Not that this isn’t crazy cute and everything but it was seriously funny to watch a penguin at 1:13 projectile poop, I burst into laughter I totally didn’t know thats how the guins did it hahahahahahahaa
(Everybody is staring at me……. :$)
this is a very, very young pup. Adult males are the size of a Buick and females are not much smaller. I worked with these animals for some time at the Marine Mammal center in Sausalito and here’s what I know:
The pups are nursed for 28-30 days and then abandoned to fend for themselves. Lots die from starvation. This one looks like it is recently weaned and hoping to nurse. Maybe this woman’s nose looks like a nipple.
The pups are incredibly docile (like this) for about three to five months and then their personality turns to be more like the adults – nasty. They become incredibly fast and mean. I have the scars to prove it.
I doubt very much that this video is of a marine mammal biologist. If so, it would be incredibly unprofessional and as others have said, dangerous, for both her and for the baby, to interact in this way.
That’s what my Heaven is going to be like : )
It clearly wants to mate with the fancy red being! I think its some kind of casanova amongst his friends.
a Buick? dang.
How awesome is this?!?!
ATTENTION Fellow CO’ers!
FISH BREATH!!!
That is all. Please resume oohing and aahing at your convenience.
Pengawins is just like chicken!
Seal cute, but the penguins were giving me a neckache! Did anyone see how they appeared to be “sleeping”? Gak!
That seal is sooooo in love…… How cute is that? What a video.
What a special moment in time. Not for a second were you afraid.
Those are the moments in life where it all makes sense.
I wondered how it ended? Did you leave first or did the seal?
I got a bit teary while watching this video, but at the very end when they posted the actual date of this wonderful event…well, my very dear Auntie Lorraine passed away on that very day and I’ve just cried my eyes out. I am really very touched by this video.
Interspecies Snorgling! Interspecies Snorgling! Interspecies Snorgling!
I am so jealous! No, that babeh seal didnt have fishy brefs… he smelled like marshmallow brefs! And the penguins were on the way to rehersal… for Happy Feet… I half expected unicorn with Fabio on it so come out of the water in this magical place!!! Sooooo beautiful!!
Loved the rolls on his back @3:08 awwwwwwwwwww
This is so beautiful.
This in the largest island close to Antarctica. This island is a breeding ground for both Elephant seals and Penguins. All tourists are encouraged to sit quietly to watch and observe the animals. Often young penguins may come up and smell you, and you are briefed to NOT touch them, but you can let them touch you if they want to. I had a penguin chew on my boot a year ago. Not sure they would ever brief you on what would happen if a seal pup approached you, but she was following orders well. You can see the leg of one of the expedition leaders to the left in one part. You can be sure there was an army of folks just out of frame watching her and telling her what not to do. You can see her talking with them
I love how the lady was talking to the seal. Possibly the equivalent of “You silly thing, what are you doing here?”
I’m not trained in anything, but is it possible for the seals to get used to that one person in particular if she stopped by regularly? If the adults thought she was a threat, I don’t think they’d be snoozing while she was chilling on their beach. I know other kinds of wildlife will get used to specific people, and still be afraid/wary of strangers, kind of like kids, actually. Not that my dog compares to a wild animal of any sort, but she also can tell strangers from people she knows. Someone tell me if I’m just delusional, please?
And yes: FEESH BREFS!! I’d definitely put up with it if I could have an experience like this, but that was my first thought.
That poor woman’s nose is DEFINATELY broken!
or
“This is how cute I am just before I BITE YOUR FACE OFF!”
ROFL!
Maybe the marine biologist instructions were to keep hands to self and not move?
Or getting up and walking away would startle/aggravate the animals even more?
I just had an incredibly rough day and this video made me feel so much better. Thank you
How *those* whiskers must tickle!
An amazing amazing video and it would be nice if we could do this, but its things like this that lead to people (well intentioned or otherwise) doing stupid things thinking that these amazing animals are domesticated as our own dogs and cats. Sometimes it really is best to love from afar. I wish I could do that, I am completely jealous of her but still the danger.
Got to be the Galapagos. And that woman clearly doesn’t remember the French woman whose face was bitten off by a seal!
its true lerve! magical anipal moments.
WHAT?….
That reminds me of my kitteh Shadow greeting me with nose touches and rolling on his back when I get home at night. What an amazing video!
Nice! A baby is a baby is a baby.
Isn’t life just great?
Every time there is some video posted where a human interacts with a wild animal it brings out the ‘humans shouldn’t interact with wild animals replies.’
You do know how predictable you are, right?
Yes this is a wild animal, and you know what: It is behaving ‘naturally!’ Curiosity is in the natural range of behaviour for most animals.
As far as I’m concerned, I wasn’t there, you weren’t there—we don’t know the whole story—and it’s between the girl and the seal.
So if you don’t like the video, go visit the many websites dedicated to sneering and persnicketty complaining, and let us enjoy the video.
some risks are just worth taking. this seal completely reminds me of my cat (who is a ten year old kitten) in literally every aspect of body language and i would have responded exactly the same way (except i would have been sitting on my hands because i think that’s the only way i could have kept them to myself; the mind is willing, but the body is weak!). now if i could just have the same ten minutes with a tiger cub, i could die happy (even if it was in mama’s jaws!).
Oh you lucky lucky girl, what a privilege.
What an experience. to have a shy adorable creature give you lovies. <3 that is so caring. id like to have those 5minutes with a Polar Bear cub (: what a bloody privilege, im jealous
but very happy for you : D
She is a very attractive young woman. If I were that seal………men are pigs but apparently male seals are not pigs.
ps seals are food for killer whales and indigenous peoples.
Anonymouse, you sound angry that people disagree with you. The beauty of these sites is we all get to read many people’s reactions to the same video or picture. Isn’t that the point?
As for comments that you think are “persnicketty” (what a great word!), I view them more as education. Many people might not realize that a South African woman had her nose bitten off by a seal she was trying to help (http://www.nhbgear.com/forum/index.php?topic=51806.0), or might not remember the marine biologist at SeaWorld that was killed this past February.
My opinion (which does not step on your opinion’s toes) is that we all have the right to express our opinions without being insulted in return.
D’aww… There’s certainly an amount of dog-like curiosity in a seal’s nature; reminds me of going swimming round the coast of Norfolk in the UK, where if you’re lucky common seals will come and join you. Probably to laugh at how pathetic we humans are in the water.
Mind you, it can be a shock to turn round and find those liquid eyes staring at you if you’re not expecting it!
Sorry if my reply came off harsh.
Somebody mentioned that in the US: “It is a federal crime to approach a marine mammal in a way that affects their wild behavior.”
I know that this law does not apply where this video was filmed but give me a break. Who gets to define what “wild behaviour” is anyway?
I’m tired of bossy people giving themselves credentials and telling people what they can and can’t do and trying to set themselves up as gatekeepers between animals and humans.
For instance, there is a law in my city that you can’t feed squirrels because they are supposed to be vermin or something.
It doesn’t stop me from feeding them to get them through the winter, and it’s totally natural for them to accept handouts from me, just like it’s totally natural for humans to fly space shuttles and use computers.
Pretty soon the only way humans will be allowed to interact with animals will either be with a dog, a cat (or other approved species, as per fedral regulation XYZZY-1030304); or as is most frequently the case, in a slaughterhouse.
[OK, too far. Enough now. - Ed.]