Once in a great while I come across something so profoundly touching that I am compelled to share it. I was astonished by a video of a woman interacting with an elephant seal in Gold Harbour on remote South Georgia island, located in the South Atlantic off the east coast of South America. In the video, she sits on the ground next to a seal; the animal gradually creeps closer and cuddles up to her, repeatedly reaching up to touch noses. It is the purest example of trust and affection between humans and animals I have ever seen. The video was removed just two days later and the owner’s YouTube account was closed, to the consternation of all who saw it and those who had not yet seen it but had heard the excitement over the footage. Later, it reappeared, posted by a different user. That account holder eventually had to take it down due to copyright infringement issues, but now it has reappeared in several YouTube videos, thus I can once again feature it here. I have no idea how long it will stay up, but for the moment I hope many people take the time to watch.
Commenters on the original YouTube video were split in their opinions about the woman’s actions. Some pointed out that an elephant seal can be aggressive and weigh up to 6,000 pounds, while others objected more vehemently, arguing that this type of interaction irrevocably alters the natural state of wild animals. Although I agree that we should never try to initiate this type of behavior, I also believe that animals – especially mammals – crave affection. In my opinion, if the animal initiates contact, interaction is acceptable. I do wonder about the original video. Was it removed because of the controversy (commenters in social media venues can be brutal) over her actions? Did the tour company find out about the footage and ask her to remove it? I guess we will never know, I am just grateful it’s back.
Wonderful video and what a life-changing experience. It’s great to read through everyone’s responses and seems to highlight for me that we as animals are longing to reconnect with our natural world as much as this young seal wanted to connect with the woman in the video.
All amazement aside, I believe it’s dangerous for people to approach animals in the wild in their own habitat, perhaps where they are protecting young, food, or a mate – this woman’s experience could easily have taken a bad turn as much as it turned out as amazing as it did.
I would have been tempted to pet him, maybe scratch his belly…very slowly & carefully.
It’s amazing that something so innocent and touching would be removed but they will allow so many other atrocities. I don’t think everyone is going to run out and start cuddling with seals. I think this was a rare opportunity to see how we can co-exist with animals in a kind way.
Fantastic. So many ‘what if’s and ‘should not’s but sometimes we get messages delivered by strange messengers and need just to take it in. Encounters such as these give us a encouragement to study more of the environment we know so little about. The behaviour tells us of another side of the personality of one particular individual, lending the question why? Are there more like this one? This reminds us of our own humanity. If we take the time we sometimes get the beauty. The video gives us pause from the world of survival of the fittest and everyone is part of the food chain. “it is, what it is” Sometimes we need to take it all in and accept it at face value.
the video is gone once more. can anyone find it again? the discussion here has been great. i saw the video a few months ago, and was looking for it to show my husband and to send a link to some people we met at a b and b last week. i was telling them about it at breakfast, because we were staying near the coast and the sea lions barked all night. of course, i couldn’t remember, but i didn’t think this was a sea lion, but what was it — a walrus? seal just seemed too small. finally found all the links, but they went nowhere. then i found this site, and followed the drama.
i couldn’t really do the video justice at the breakfast table, could only describe it, but in desperation, last night, i acted it out for my husband, who had to sit on the bed (don’t move!) and be the woman, and i coyly lumped around as the seal. he was in hysterics, so i hope someone can post the real thing, so he gets to see the wonder of it, and can maybe erase the image of my galluphing… i really did feel like i was channeling that elephant seal, though i also felt like a giant slug…
Thank you so much for sharing this. A friend of mine sent me the link but I the link was removed. So I set out on a search to find the seal video but every where I went I could not find it until now.
I enjoyed reading your post very much and love the quote you have at the top of your page.
Well, it is interesting that is should be available again. Having just been to S. GA and having seen these fantastic creatures I can’t say I would feel threatned by sitting down and seeing if one would come and cuddle. Getting down would have been easy, getting up more difficult.
I should mention I saw the video from a link a friend sent me, I believe it was a yahoo link, so not sure on the status of same on THIS site. Then I wanted background on it, as yes, indeed, in the USA, the woman, if not a researcher, would be engaging in a Federal offense, merely for being that close to start with.
I also have kinda swum with dolphins, but they were a coastal dolphin pod that passed me while I was 300 feet off of Laguna Beach, when I was doing scuba, and happened to be on the surface. What was especially eerie was the first thing we saw was a fin..(Jaws drumroll please..LOL)..then a few more fins. They passed not 30 feet away, at least two were youngsters.
As a former whale watch docent(4 years) in SoCal, where we saw these many times in the water (they travel solo about), and having had many both marine biology and oceanography courses AND have 700 hours ON the ocean(or in), can I point out that this elephant seal in the very neat video, is a pup not even a year old.
Here is the link… http://www.wimp.com/elephantseal/
I received this link from a friend — as of 4/27/10 it is still working. Based on what I’ve read here, who knows how long it will be on this site? It is sweet, but like many other who posted here, I’m conflicted too. Sweet, but dangerous for the animal who might try to approach other humans in the future based on this experience.
Barbara, a friend of mine sent me to your link on this story without giving me a reason. I’m so glad she did. It’s an awesome story and video. Yes mammals crave affection.
thanks so much,
Craig P.
Hi Craig: Yes, I’ve been updating my site with new links each time people are forced to take the video down. It’s been interesting to watch the process, and I’m really glad there are a handful of people who are devoted to keeping the video alive, as it has a powerful message. Thanks for your comment.
This is an awesome video of how interaction with seals should be. Its about time somebody publicly interacted with a seal without it being in show business or clubbed to death. To the people who say that this female elephant seal is dangerous and aggressive you’ve misplaced your facts. I see most of you saying that the woman approached the seal and that is false. The seal approached her and she did this because she could tell the woman was friendly. The seal had probably seen people walk by many times and wished to get up close to them. Female seals are not aggressive, the males are the aggressive ones. That is just like the majority of male animal species on this planet and that is during mating season when they get territorial. Seals eat fish and squid and there has never been a recording of them eating people. And 6,000lbs! Are you stupid?! That seal is only slightly larger than the woman. There hasn’t even been a recording of a female being more than 2,210lbs and on average they grow to be 880-1,980 lbs.
it’s up on purina’s website:
http://purinaanimalallstars.yahoo.com/?v=7335347&l=100000085
Here it is!!! It is so Amazing!
Hi, Maybe the cute video of Cuddling with an Elephant Seal was removed because the woman was actually in violation of being too close to this protected species. Also, judging by the size, it looks as though this elephant seal is maybe a good-sized weaner.
Well I saw this incredible video…I can’t even remember how I happened upon it….and then my computer went down for an update and now I can’t find it anywhere….that woman sat very still and that elephant seal made all the moves…and the elephant seal inched his way towards her….you could tell it was curious and then after smelling her and getting closer I think the elephant seal fell in love….arching his back, bending over backwards and making silly faces and clapping his fins together at her and kissing her was very heart warming to watch ….especially with all the horrors of what man is doing to kill all these lovely creatures….just my opinion, this woman did everything right…..she let the elephant seal come over to her and sat very still…..I’m sure that experience will be forever in her memories….
Quite frankly, anyone who approaches a 6,000 predator with anything but caution is a Darwinian ticking bomb. If someone watches this video and thinks “hey, that massively muscled creature with enormous teeth is really cute, I think I’ll grab it by the tail and shout BOO!” then it’s probably not a one-off in their behaviour. Yes, this woman is lucky, but it was her choice. Saying this video is encouraging such behaviour seems a bit ludicrous. That’s a massive, massive creature. It’s wild. It’s got bloody enormous teeth. What’s missing that says “DANGER” here?
It’s also an animal, like us. And like us, it’s capable of being friendly, and of being incredibly violent. We’re really hot on the latter topic, but in a world that still casually, cruelly slaughters animals for fleeting economic gain, we could do with remembering the former every once in a while. Yes, these are potential killing machines (I’d argue we’re a hell of a lot worse, given our technological supports). So you treat them with respect. Like mountains, like cars, like the weather – like other people.
And sometimes, these creatures let you see they’re living, breathing animals with minds of their own, animals that aren’t filled with malevolence towards anything pink. They’re not scary monsters that belong behind reinforced glass or iron bars. They’re other animals.
Let’s not pretend they’re good, but let’s not pretend they’re evil either.
Another case in point:
http://gizmodo.com/5405892/national-geographic-photographer-meets-deadly-leopard-seal
I was hoping to use the elephant seal video to teach business people about boundaries. It was an elegant and touching story of a respectful encounter. I can only wish we’ll have a way to see it and share it again.
I just watched the trailer for “The Cove”. And read the comments. Had no idea. NO idea. We owe it to these brave, dedicated people who risked their lives, and went thru hell to produce this film, and we certainly owe it to the dolphins, to watch this film. We need to know. We have no right to be ambivilant about their plight. We need to be pro-active, and like Ken said earlier, we need to ‘educate’ ourselves. I just checked our local video store, Blockbuster, and they have the video. We will be renting that for sure. I know it won’t be easy to watch. But, it isn’t fair to stuff our head under a pillow, and pretend nothing horrible is going on…once you know, you have a responsiblity. Pass the word on, let the world know. Make this crazy heartless killing of the incredibly intelligent and loving dolpin stop.
“The Cove” is a “must see”. It is not for the weak of heart, but it is an eye opener to the tragedy these poor creatures go through at man’s expense.
Gone again. Here is another posting which is both versions combined.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oTD3nPpk_o
Ken, I appreciate your remarks. I have to admit, you have ‘started’ to educate me regarding the plight of the captured dolphins. Somehow, I missed the fact that fishermen and other people were capturing them for swim with dolphin companies. I don’t know where I thought they came from. In 1993, I was very ill, and had such a strong feeling that I needed to be near a dolphin. So, although it didn’t happen for me, I was glad it did for my daughter.
I can’t believe I didn’t know about the dolphin-capturing. I will watch this documentary, although I know it will not be easy. We all need to know about this, and I thank you, Ken, for saying it like it is. I believe dolphins are incredible creatures (most creatures are) and I feel an affinity to them.
Thank you for your gracious apologies. You did get me wrong. But, that’s okay, I am learning something very important from this. All of this.
Grizzly Man? My older son recorded that video for me. My youngest, said, “Mom, you can’t watch this.” But, he did tell me what happened. (Shaking my head…) Thank you, everyone, for your posts. Thank you, Barbara, for making this possible, and especial thanks you, Ken, for helping me to educate myself. It’s a big deal. I hope others will check that documentary out, as well.
Barbara, I have got so many notes back from people who have enjoyed the video that we have been able to see again…even if it is for a short time. It’s precious. Robin
Argh. Everyone needs to watch Grizzly Man again, or for the first time. That would be good.
As much as I can see that this is truly a wonderful experience for the woman in the video (and honestly, I envy her) there are all kinds of things that make me crazy about it.
Here’s wildlife learning that humans aren’t dangerous/predatory. Here’s a video setting false expectations for wildlife interactions. Here’s a situation that didn’t go badly, but good lord, could have.
Everyone needs to watch Grizzly Man again. Did I mention that?
Glad to hear that Robin! Dolphins are very curious and social with humans even in the wild. Sadly this is one of the reasons that they are such easy targets for poachers, so called fishermen and people who capture them to sell to swim with dolphin companies who make a fortune on the misery of such wonderful and intelligent animals.
My apologies if I misunderstood your post and if my subsequent post offended you in any way.
Kind regards,
Ken