ELEPHANT SEAL THAT JUST GAVE BIRTH VS SEAGULLS
WITH PIX AND VID
By Shuk Yee Tsang
A dramatic birth on a beach quickly turned into chaos as seagulls swooped in around a newborn elephant seal.
Jodi Frediani, 77, from Santa Cruz, California, a marine photographer and whale researcher, captured the extraordinary moment at Año Nuevo State Park on the north side of Monterey Bay.
The female northern elephant seal gave birth right in front of the viewing area during an after-hours tour.
Moments after the pup dropped onto the sand, gulls descended in large numbers.
They first pecked at the pup’s umbilical cord, still attached, then scrambled over one another to feed on the placenta.
The mother barked loudly and lunged at the birds, attempting to protect her newborn from the frenzy.
Jodi said: “You'd think the mother would get to rest after giving birth, but no. Doesn't seem to be in the cards.
“The gulls descend, first to snack on the pup's umbilical cord, still attached.
"Then to scramble for a chance to feed on the placenta, not even waiting for it to have been completely passed.
“I have had the good fortune to have observed and photographed several births. However, I've never seen a birth as exciting as this one.
“Along with the rest of my group, we were all very excited to have witnessed the birth of a new elephant seal pup."
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