A pair of massive elephant seals fought into the ocean for beach dominance.
Dane Powell was visiting Peninsula Valdés, Argentina, when two huge male seals clashed.
Dramatic footage captured the two goliaths – weighing up to three tonnes (3,700kg) – throw their full weight behind powerful headbutts to their rival’s body.
With dominance over the beach’s females, the pair continued their fight into the ocean despite the danger of becoming an orca’s meal.
Dane said: “I used to watch scenes like this as a child with Sir David Attenborough and to be there to see it in person was the most amazing thing I might ever experience.
“Not only do the male elephant seals have to fight for their territory but they can also become a meal to a family of orca during these territorial disputes.
“The smashing together of bodies weighing over 3700kg is like thunder. You feel it and hear it at the same time.
“Southern Elephant Seal males fight to control a group, or harem of females for breeding purposes.
“The challenging male tried to intimidate the beach master by raising his head and hind flippers up at the same time to show his large size.
“The beach master wasn’t having any intrusion on his shore and quickly rose to the challenge.
“These heavyweight hitters were fighting for over 30 minutes until the challenger conceded and swam away without a beach to call his own.”
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