SEA-ELEPHANTS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 15, Issue 372, 9 August 1946, Page 31

SEA-ELEPHANTS

(Written for "The Listener" by

J. H.

SORENSEN

years ago a then popular song in one part of which the sad fate of a billy-goat was mentioned. The last lines, to: the best of my recollection, ran thus: "And what do you suppose, they cut off the poor brute’s nose," "How does he smell, Mr. Gallagher?" "Something’ awful, Mr. Sheen!" "Something awful" might also be well used to describe the smell of the seaelephants. When shedding their coat, an annual event, these seals lie on tussock or grassy slopes for from five to six weeks. Wallows or depressions in the soft peaty ground are made by the weight of their bodies and, in subantarctic latitudes, rain falls with almost monotonous regularity. The condition and -stench of a mob of 50 or more huge sea-elephants lying in such places for weeks on end is best left to the imagination. Great was the delight of other members of coast-watching parties on the Campbells when some unfortunate person slipped into a deserted wallow. Although the unlucky one did not go, like the character who encountered a skunk in David Harum, "into the woods for a week and hate hisself,’ he had to immerse himself completely in the nearest clean pool or arm of the sea, and thoroughly clean and scour all his clothes. Few members of the party escaped this misfortune; hence the delight at the next yictim’s discomfiture. The sea-elephants are the largest in size of the sub-antarctic seals. The males, or bulls, as they are generally called, reach 20 feet in length and have a fleshy, inflatable "trunk" which hangs down over the mouth, It is this enlarged nose, found only on adult males, which gives the group its popular name. Harems and Pups None of our party on Campbell Island in 1942 had ever seen sea-elephants in their native haunts. Our only knowledge of them was from the occasional animals which had strayed to the mainland of New Zealand. Therefore we kept a close ] RECALL having heard some

watch about the time our predecessors had stated the harems would be formed. The first cows hauled out in early September and were immediately gathered into a group by an immense bull which had been cruising around Perseverance Harbour for fully a fortnight. At this time, too, several other harems were formed in other sheltered places around the island. The pups were born later in the month. They were most attractive little fellows with a glossy black coat of soft velvety fur. Their shrill yapping cries, very like those given by young dogs, were now to be heard in all directions. Elephant seals, although not entirely devoid of intelligence, are rather stupid. Some cows had congregated near some very deep wallows and into these pools

of slush and filth many pups were continually falling. We then had to do rescue work. It was a two-man job for, while one of us threw a noose of rope around the pup and dragged it protestingly out, another had to fight off the outraged parents with an oar or long stick. So often did the pups fall back in that we finally had to drag them down to a near-by beach. The mothers were attracted to this place by the yapping of the hungry pups and eventually the harem was re-formed there. The pups begin shedding the black coat a fortnight after birth and it is gradually replaced by velvety bluishgrey fur. They are weaned at three weeks, being then tremendously fat and _ almost unable to scratch themselves. The (continued on next page)

SEA-ELEPHANTS

(continued from previous page) cows depart for the open ocean about this time, leaving the pups to subsist on their accufhulated fat for another month before they, too, depart to sea. Fighting Bulls I had heard and read of the amount of fighting which goes on amongst the mature bulls in the breeding season. Certainly the younger animals are always sparring and bickering, but nothing like a real fight ever occurred amongst these particular ones. The encounters we saw both on shore and in the sea seemed to be merely trials of strength with little animosity between the contestants. Nor were many serious fights observed among the mature bulls. It seemed very much as if there was a definite grading of strength and that each bull knew his place on the "ladder." I have seen a cruising bull come to the surface near a harem and, after taking one look at the one in charge, hurriedly submerge and make off, evidently recalling the sea-elephant’s equivalent of our adage that discretion is the better part of valour. If, on the other hand, the approaching bull was the superior in strength to the one ashore, the latter would take off hurriedly up the hillside or obliquely to the nearest Water. One real fight I did witness and, although of short duration, it was exciting enough while it lasted. "Scarface" had left his harem temporarily for a short cruise. On his return he found another bull in charge of the group of cows. The latter bull made off at the rightful owner’s return and with bleary eyes watched from the hillside for a chance to get to the sea. At last, thinking the coast was clear, he made smartly for the water and had almost reached it when "Scarface" made: for him. Although he had to come diagonally and

cover nearly twice the distance, "Scarface" overhauled the other bull before he could submerge. I was astonished ‘at the speed shown. Indeed, had the attacker not struck a large boulder in his path he’ would have reached hig rival sooner. ‘Seeing no escape, the retreating bull turned quickly, and the two reared up facing one another. Again showing surprising speed, "Scarface" thrust for his adversary’s shoulder, inflicting a deep gash. Again he lunged; but this time the other turned aside smartly and struck too, inflicting a ragged wound on "Scarface’s" trunk. Then, seizing the opportunity, he bolted. "Scarface" returned to the harem breathing heavily, and staining the water with blood, but without doubt the victor. Definite Increase I have searched many publications dealing with the animal life of Campbell Island, but have: been unable to find any references which state that seaelephants lived and bred thereon in bygone days. In McNab’s Murihiku there are references to oiling-parties left on the island to the quantities of oil and skins taken to Australia. It is likely, however, that most, if not all, the oil was obtained from sea-lions. Certainly there were no breeding elephant seals between 1890 and 1927 during which time the island was occupied as a sheep station. At the present time there are almost two hundred breeding females and a very large nymber of bachelor bulls. It can only be concluded that, since the closure on sealing was applied, the animals have increased on the Macquaries and are now overflowing to the north. If this source of potential wealth is jealously guarded, it may be possible in future years to exploit profitably the seal-oil on Campbell Island once again. If the breeding animals were untouched it might well pay to thin out the herds of bachelor bulls as is done at South Georgia. ;