I took this shot on Friday after a day spent diving with the Cape Fur Seals at Duiker Island, Hout Bay. This adult seal was fast asleep just a few feet away from the rotting corpse of a seal pup. It brought home the realisation that death in nature is just an accepted fact, part and parcel of existence in the eat or be eaten realm of the sea. Whether or not these intelligent mammals grieve for their dead or are bothered by the proximity of death is something I never really though about.
Arb thought for the day, go figure...
Regards
Jean.
wow, you would think the smell would be bothersome?!
But then again, seal rookeries tend to stink anyway
Many mammals will stay with their dead babies for quite sometime ... It probably is a grieving process which we humans can relate to making it more of a sad thing to witness ... I remember seeing the Pic of a monkey mum holding her dead baby and the look on her face said it all ... She apparently carried it around for quite a while before letting go ...
Dive safe
DeanB
Well I think You said it all Jean!
Death is a normal part in the circle of life and You'r picture tells a good story.
Many mammals will stay with their dead babies for quite sometime ... It probably is a grieving process which we humans can relate to making it more of a sad thing to witness ... I remember seeing the Pic of a monkey mum holding her dead baby and the look on her face said it all ... She apparently carried it around for quite a while before letting go ...
Dive safe
DeanB
Crikey Brummie.. pregnancy makes you philosophical
