This video may not change your life . . .

. . . but it will help to start your week on an uplifting note and offers a reminder, if one were needed, that we are all connected. Including seals.

The video first appeared on the internet at the beginning of this year but then the original was taken down. Now it's back.

A tourist visiting Gold Harbour, South Georgia* is sitting on the beach, watching seals and penguins. And then, one of the elephant seals is drawn to her, snuggles up and appears to flirt with her. (Don't worry, it's not an X-rated video.) The tourist remains remarkably composed, given that an elephant seal can weigh up to 6,000 pounds. Someone, thankfully, managed to capture the whole thing.

*According to the notes that accompanied the video's arrival with this morning's emails - thank you, Friend in New Zealand - Gold Harbour is located in a sub-arctic region, 1,100 miles east of the southern tip of Latin America. it is a small bay, five miles S-SW of Cape Charlotte, with Bertrab Glacier at its head, along the east end of South Georgia Island. The west end of the beach, where a glacial stream flows, is a breeding ground for various types of penguins and large seals. You can read more about South Georgia here. Don't miss the webcams, including this one.

Comments

[Friend In New Zealand]

We are indeed all one.

[Christina]

Many thanks to you for that!

[Dancing Beastie]

How utterly enchanting. My rational side is telling me all sorts of stern facts about biological urges, human interference in nature, anthropomorphism etc. etc., but I'm not listening to it. I'm just sitting here with tears sliding gently down my cheeks, feeling blissful. Thank you for sharing this moment!

[Jay from The Depp Effect]

What an amazing experience!! Lucky woman! Looks like seals are more dog-like than was suspected. I know they can get the same diseases, like distemper.

But it looks like a pup, and I'd say she was lucky Mum was out fishing!