Male Elephant Seal Exhibits Rare Altruism, Saves Drowning Pup

In an unprecedented act, a male elephant seal at Point Reyes National Seashore heroically rescues a struggling pup, challenging previous notions about the species' behavior.

• A male elephant seal at Point Reyes National Seashore in California was observed saving a young pup from drowning, marking a rare instance of altruism in the species.
• The rescue, witnessed by wildlife biologists, involved the seal using his body to nudge the pup back to shore, preventing it from being swept out to sea.
• This act of heroism is particularly notable as male elephant seals are typically focused on mating and are not known for engaging in care of the young.
• Researchers suggest the seal's actions could redefine understanding of male elephant seals, traditionally seen as aggressive and uninvolved in parenting.
• The incident, documented in the journal Marine Mammal Science, may encourage further observations of altruistic behavior in marine mammals.

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