See this video of the injuries of “Slash” by a motorboat
This page is directed to all those marine vessel operators who persist in driving at high speeds in areas frequented by Marine birds and mammals. This is a video of an elephant seal that was struck by a motor boat somewhere around Race Rocks in January of 2003. Fortunately he will probably survive, he was one of the “lucky” ones. This is probably the most northern location for haulout of elephant seals . They are docile creatures, unafraid of boats. We just have to slow down and watch the surface carefully to avoid these animals when we are driving around sensitive ecological areas.
Two male elephant seals this week hauled up on Great Race island. One was suffering from severe injuries, probably inflicted by someone driving a motor boat at high speed in the area around Race Rocks.
cuts on the head and body
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- a deep cut above the eye
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- a few days after the injury
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- scars will remain.
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- a yawn on the lawn.
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- still recovering several weeks later
This elephant seal we eventually name “Slash” and he becomes ta docile elephant seal that hangs around the main island for many years. See other videos of him on this site.
- See the posts on Slash:
- See Ecological Reserve Guardian Carol Slater’s comments on these animals in the Daily log of Jan19, Feb 11, Feb13, Feb 14 and Mar 1, 2003
- See the recovery a year later
- See Elephant Seal Taxonomy