Being easily pleased and sensing victory, I of course
then became very complacent. Thinking the seal now had
to somehow get back to where he was I prepared the camera
for a few more shots and just managed to get this one off of
him launching himself back onto the platform I'd just chased
him from.
Now I knew
that seals were very fast and agile and could jump out of
the water, but for some reason, shooting up over 1.5m from
the surface and landing at my feet wasn't the expected
outcome at least as far as I was concerned! For my fur seal
friend here, it was evidently not only possible, but also an
integral part of his cunning plan.
No pictures
of him at my feet as it was my turn to high-tail it. Despite
our now forming a friendship, I've seen enough fur seals
play-fight with too much involvement from those teeth to
want to go the whole hog with him. Getting away from tooth
range was quite easy as you just run uphill, that puts the
seals at a real disadvantage as they can lollop uphill, but
not run. I had to stop before too long though as the uphill
led to a smooth mossy area with many other sleeping fur
seals which I didn't want to tread on.
Paul Ward -
This picture may not be copied or used in any manner without
prior written permission.
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