Natural History Wanderings

The New York Times reports

In an unlikely act of altruism observed two years ago, a male elephant seal prevented a younger animal from drowning.

This is highly unusual as typically

Male elephant seals are not known for their paternal instincts. While splayed out on the beach during the breeding season, these far-from-gentle giants focus on mating with females and fighting other males. As they hustle their two tons of bulk around the colony in pursuit of these goals, “they’ll run over pups” without hesitation, crushing even their own offspring,

Read story and see photos at A Two-Ton Lifeguard That Saved a Young Pup