The hilarious moment that a 200lb elephant sealing stumbled over to cuddle up to a South Georgia wildlife photographer is this.
Jess Taunton was on a photographic expedition in Gold Harbour, on the South Atlantic island, when she and her husband Chris Bray came across a group of king penguins.
Jess sat down in order to capture the flightless birds. A group of pups from elephant seals approached Jess and her husband.
Jess was the first to notice that one of their pups had left the group.
Jess Taunton was out photographing penguins south of Georgia when she was approached and rescued by an elephant seal cub.
A second seal arrived to examine the Australian wildlife photographer within a matter of minutes.
Many people criticised her for being too close to seals. But she stated that the pups approached and her official guidance states people shouldn’t push them away.
As if giving Jessica a hug, the strange creature puts its weight repeatedly on Jessica’s body.
The elephant seals of the region can grow to up to 8.800lbs in weight and reach 19 feet in height.
A second seal followed, and then a third. They all laid their eggs on an Australian wildlife photographer.
Chris, an Australian geographic wildlife photographer, stated that Jess, her wife, was lying down to capture a photo of some South Georgia king penguins when a gang of marauding elephant seal pups decided they would flop over to give Jess a hug.
They are as adorable as they are heavy.
Some people thought Jessica was too close to seals after the video of December 2018’s encounter went viral online.
She explained that the young elephant seal pups are as bright and curious as they are dangerously heavy.
She responded to her Instagram post: “Young elephant seal pups such as this one are just as curious and brave as their heavy counterparts.
While there are IAATO guidelines, (I am an IAATO-accredited field guide), that recommend Antarctic tourists avoid getting closer than 5m to seals, nobody tells them this.
“If you are crouching down to photograph passing King penguins, as I was, then it is not common for these giants of the blubbery sea creatures to flip right up and inspect you.
According to her, the guidelines forbid pushing the seals off, because they can eventually make you feel numb.
Jess said: “Unfortunately, when something goes viral, large numbers of people view it (and don’t bother reading the caption), a small minority won’t get what is actually being shown. They will jump right to the incorrect assumption that I must have stood right up underneath the pup in order to take this photo.