Boat Injury of Elephant Seal

In January 2003, two male elephant seals were 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.

See MPA 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


a few days after the injury	a deep cut above the eye	cuts on the head and body

still recovering several weeks later	a yawn on the lawn.	scars will remain.

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 Elephant Seal 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.