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San Simeon and Piedras Blancas • Return of Elephant Seals – California Central Coast EcoGuide |
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Hearst built the great American show off here. But a prehistoric legacy has made an epic reappearance and commands attention, too. |
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New E-Seal Gallery – Jutta Jacobs Kathe Tanner Reports from the Beaches Elephant Seal Field Guide by Jane Strong Elephant Seal Gallery by Jackie Van Riessen Elephant Seal History by Kristi West |
Now the Castle has a rival attraction in the neighborhood. |
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The feeling of Hearst has a heady presence around San Simeon and Piedras Blancas. Originally named by the Spanish explorers, the area became a land grant obtained by his father. The name means White Rocks, and his father kept it for his ranch, for the great rock sentinels to this fine coast are distinctive. |
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A young mother ponders the human phenomena so prevalent at the Piedras Blancas beach coves. See our Elephant Seal Gallery by Jackie Van Riessen |
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The Zebras are all that’s left of his African imported estate zoo. |
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Three thousand pound Elephant Seals playing, flipping sand on their backs, hopping about, snuggling with their siblings, snorting, honking and rolling around has the grand effect of reducing humans to a silly, giddy state. |
A new elephant seal. Photo by Jackie Van Riessen |
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Twenty years ago small colonies of these great creatures were discovered at Guadalupe Island off Baja California peninsula. |
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Eight years ago an elephant seal appeared at Piedras Blancas, and three years ago whole families arrived. This year, more than 2,000 were in residence. Young bulls bring harems to five beaches and coves at this new locale. The terrific proliferation must beat least in part due to the regulations of Monterey Bay as a marine sanctuary. |
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A pleasant and serious army of volunteer docents has emerged to guard the seals from obstreperous humans, and to educate us about their history and behavior. An informative story: Coast and Ocean. |
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Kathe Tannner Reports from the Beaches Field notes from Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Field Guide by Jane Strong |
Elephant Seal Gallery by Jackie Van Riessen |
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Where to stay? Big Sur Lodge |
Read Member Comments about Cambria and the Elephant Seals.
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People who work with the public, and with volunteers to inform the public wrote this book. You an order it by visiting Friends of the Elephant Seals |
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To visit the new website exclusively for Friends of the Elephant Seals:
New: Northern Elephant Seal Rookery Interactive Map
••••••••••••
Best of California’s
Central Coast –
Approved to benefit
Pelican Affinity Partners, the community-based non
profits who help the arts and environment.
New: Northern Elephant Seal Rookery Interactive Map