Why are Southern Elephant Seal Pups called Weaners?

For the next several days, by land and by zodiac, I will be exploring the islands of South Georgia, set in the Southern Ocean approximately 350km South of the Antarctic Convergence.  

This unique island, with its breathtaking scenery and an overwhelming abundance of penguins, petrels and seals, is home to one of the most remarkable wildlife spectacles on Earth.  I count myself blessed beyond all measure to be able to photograph here and pray that I can convey some sense of the indescribable and the unimaginable.

For my next few posts, I will concentrate on the wildlife that is massed on the snow-free beaches of South Georgia, starting with the Southern Elephant Seal.

The Southern Elephant Seal is the largest of all seals ~ males can weigh over 8,500 pounds.  Living in brutally cold Antarctic waters that are rich in large fish and squid, they are capable of diving to impressive depths, regularly going down to 300-500m for 20-30 minutes.  They spend 9-10 months of the year at sea, only coming to land to breed, pup and molt.  The female gives birth about 5 days after coming ashore and does not leave the beach to feed until her pup is abruptly weaned 4 weeks later, when she abandons it to return to the sea.  By this time the pups have quadrupled in weight to nearly 300lbs and are now affectionately known as weaners.  With their huge dark eyes and wonderful wrinkles, they are also unbelievably curious and unafraid of humans.

Journey Map