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Elephant seals return to Año Nuevo State Park. Visitors watch battling bulls and 75-pound pups
The park hosts roughly 10,000 elephant seals each winter for breeding and pupping, drawing visitors who must reserve docent-led tours during the season, officials said.
- Año Nuevo State Park this winter hosts about 10,000 elephant seals that return to fight, mate and give birth during pupping season.
- After near-extinction in the 1800s, 19th-century hunters reduced elephant seals to fewer than 100 in 1892, prompting the Mexican government in 1922 and shortly after the United States to extend legal protection.
- During pupping season, bull elephant seals reach up to 16 feet and 2.5 tons and engage in bloody battles while mothers nurse 75-pound pups, Laura Stern, park docent, says.
- Visitors must book docent-led guided walks during pupping season via ReserveCalifornia, while between April and November no tours are needed, attracting wildlife watchers to the seal spectacle.
- Despite a genetic bottleneck from 30 to 60 founders, Laura Stern says, `There is a genetic bottleneck because they're all coming from that same 30 to 60. But so far they're doing really well, and we haven't had any problems,` indicating a healthy Pacific population estimated at 250,000 seals.
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Elephant seals return to Año Nuevo State Park. Visitors watch battling bulls and 75-pound pups
Every winter, about 10,000 elephant seals make their way to California’s Año Nuevo State Park, to fight, mate and give birth.
·United States
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Total News Sources30
Leaning Left10Leaning Right4Center14Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 36%
C 50%
14%
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