Rising Tide Images
Peek-A-Boo
Where did mom go? In what seemingly appears to be a game of peek-a-boo, a female monk seal shovels her face into the beach sand as the pup looks around. After taking her 15-day old pup for a swimming lesson, the adult galumphed ashore and nosed into the sand. This is a frequently observed behavior attributed to a variety of reasons ranging from sun screening to molting itch to sensory attenuation. Whatever the motive, it was anthropomorphically amusing to watch. Monk seals are, unfortunately, among the rarest of marine mammals. A recent census indicated a slight increase in the total population to an estimated 1,600 individuals. The encouraging population increase may be due to diligent conservation efforts.
Peek-A-Boo
Where did mom go? In what seemingly appears to be a game of peek-a-boo, a female monk seal shovels her face into the beach sand as the pup looks around. After taking her 15-day old pup for a swimming lesson, the adult galumphed ashore and nosed into the sand. This is a frequently observed behavior attributed to a variety of reasons ranging from sun screening to molting itch to sensory attenuation. Whatever the motive, it was anthropomorphically amusing to watch. Monk seals are, unfortunately, among the rarest of marine mammals. A recent census indicated a slight increase in the total population to an estimated 1,600 individuals. The encouraging population increase may be due to diligent conservation efforts.