During mating season, male seals typically focus on mating with nearby females, conserving their energy for about three months. However, a male elephant seal recently demonstrated an extraordinary act of altruism by saving a drowning pup, despite the breeding season priorities.
Wildlife biologists from the National Park Service observed the incident at Point Reyes National Seashore in California and documented it in a paper published in the journal Marine Mammal Science. On a sunny day in January 2022, the biologists noticed a female seal calling out to a two-week-old pup that was struggling in the water after being pulled in by the waves. Witnessing the distress, a nearby alpha male seal rushed to the scene and swiftly sprang into action to rescue the struggling pup.
The male seal used his body to push and guide the pup back to shore, preventing it from being carried out to sea by the tides. Once the mother and pup were reunited, the seal rested on the wet sand, marking the success of his rescue mission. It is uncommon for male marine mammals to exhibit such self-sacrificing behavior, as their primary focus during breeding season is mating and protecting their harem.
From mid-December to the end of March, Northern elephant seals fast during the breeding season to mate with females or defend their harem from other males. The researchers noted that while the male seal’s behavior could be misconstrued as misdirected sexual behavior, they propose that his actions were intentional and not a result of hormonal instincts.
After reuniting the distressed female and her pup, the male seal did not attempt to approach the female, but instead collapsed onto the shore, demonstrating a heroic act that deviated from the typical behavior of male elephant seals.
