Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) bull rules the harem during breeding season, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Female southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, at breeding colony at Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island, Atlantic Ocean

South African (Cape) fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus), Cape Cross breeding colony, Namibia, May 2013

Antarctic fur seal pups (Arctocephalus gazella) near the abandoned whaling station at Stromness Bay on South Georgia, Polar Regions

Antarctic fur seal pup (Arctocephalus gazella) on Prion Island in the Bay of Isles on South Georgia, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Antarctic fur seal pups (Arctocephalus gazella) near the abandoned whaling station at Stromness Bay on South Georgia, Polar Regions

Leucistic caused by lack of melanin, or blond Antarctic fur seal pup (Arctocephalus gazella) on South Georgia, Polar Regions

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) bull holding adult female in the surf to mate with her, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Sunrise on king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding colony at Gold Harbor, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Adult bull southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) fleeing from another male challenger at Gold Harbour, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) bull holding adult female in the surf to mate with her, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Battle-scarred beachmaster southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) bellowing a challenger, Peggotty Bluff, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Mother southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) nursing young pup at breeding site at Peggotty Bluff, South Georgia Island, Polar Regions

Adult beachmaster bull southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) holding female down with his weight, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Adult bull southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) mating in the surf at Gold Harbour on South Georgia Island, Polar Regions

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) weaner pups sleeping on the beach at Gold Harbour on South Georgia, Polar Regions

Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leoninar), at breeding beach in Gold Harbor, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leoninar) weaners at breeding beach in Gold Harbor, South Georgia, Polar Regions

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding colony at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Pre-dawn light on elephant seals (Mirounga leoninar), at breeding beach in Gold Harbor, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Breeding colony of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) on St. Paul Island, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, United States of America, North America

Southern elephant seal bull (Mirounga leoninar), throwing sand at breeding beach in St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Breeding colony of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) on St. Paul Island, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, United States of America, North America

Southern elephant seal bull (Mirounga leoninar), at breeding beach in King Haakon Bay, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Sunrise on king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding colony at Gold Harbor, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Adult king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) at breeding colony at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia Island, Polar Regions

Adult king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) at breeding colony at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia Island, Polar Regions

A Bull Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean, showing a threat display.

Antarctic Fur Seal pups at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

Antarctic Fur Seal pups at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

A female Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean, with a zodiak full of passengers from an expedition cruise.

Antarctic Fur Seal pups at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

A female Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

A female Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) on Prion Island, South Georgia, Southern Ocean, and a wildlife photographer.

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) mating behavior on South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) mating behavior on South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean

Adult bull southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) fighting for breeding grounds on South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean

Adult Weddell Seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) hauled out on ice near the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colony Hercules Bay on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colony Hercules Bay on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colony at Salisbury Plains, Bay of Isles on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Steller (Northern) Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) hauled out on small reef in Southeast Alaska, USA.

Curious Steller (Northern) Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) approaching boat, Southeast Alaska, USA.

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colony Fortuna Bay on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Steller (Northern) Bull Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) hauled out with young animals, Southeast Alaska, USA.

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colony Fortuna Bay on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colony at Salisbury Plains, Bay of Isles on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Steller (Northern) Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) hauled out on small reef in Glacier Bay National Park, Southeast Alaska, USA.

King penguin courtship behavior (Aptenodytes patagonicus) at the breeding and nesting colony at Salisbury Plains, Bay of Isles on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Polar Bear (Ursa maritimus) on sea ice off the sub-arctic coast of Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Bears come to the coast of Hudson Bay in Fall waiting for the ice to freeze, and looking for a careless seal or dead whale to wash up. Global warming has shortened their winter so they are increasingly anxious as they wait for winter. While they wait, they engage in frequent wrestling matches to determine a mating hierarchy for the breeding season in March and April, and regularly check on the ice to see if it will carry them out to sea.

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) after harem and breeding season. Young bulls fighting and establishing pecking order. South America, Falkland Islands, January

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), male, after breeding period on the Falkland Islands. South America, Falkland Islands, January

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) after harem and breeding season. Young bulls fighting and establishing pecking order. South America, Falkland Islands, January

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) after harem and breeding season. Young bulls fighting and establishing pecking order. South America, Falkland Islands, January

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) after harem and breeding season. Young bulls fighting and establishing pecking order. South America, Falkland Islands, January

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), male, after breeding period on the Falkland Islands. South America, Falkland Islands, January

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) after harem and breeding season. Young bulls fighting and establishing pecking order. South America, Falkland Islands, January

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), old bull, after harem and breeding season on the Falkland Islands. South America, Falkland Islands, January

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), male, after breeding period on the Falkland Islands, half grown bulls fighting for training and to establish pecking order. South America, Falkland Islands, January

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), male, after breeding period on the Falkland Islands. South America, Falkland Islands, January