Ben Cranke / Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) subadult males practice sparring. St Andrew's Bay, South Georgia Island

Ben Cranke / Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) and her newborn pup, bonding with calling and nuzzling. Salisbury plain, South Georgia Island

Ben Cranke / King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) congregate on the beach, seeking a safe point to go into the sea, with male Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) blocking their path. St Andrew's Bay,...

Mark MacEwen / King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) group walking past Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) colony, mountains in background. St Andrews Bay, South Georgia. October 2017.

Mark MacEwen / Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), two females sleeping. St Andrews Bay, South Georgia. October.

Ben Cranke / King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) approached by an Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella). A few pecks from the penguins caused the seal to retreat. Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina)...

Alex Hyde / Southern Elephant Seal bull (Mirounga leonina) close up portrait, King Haakon Bay, South Georgia. November.

Alex Hyde / Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) pup with mother. King Haakon Bay, South Georgia. November.

Alex Hyde / Colonies of King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) on beach at St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia. November.

Roland Seitre / Blackish cinclodes (Cinclode fuligineux) on beach with Southern Elephant-Seal (Mirounga leonina). This species feeds on dead skin of the seal. Falklands Islands.

Chris & Monique Fallows / King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) colony at sunrise. Grytviken, South Georgia Island.

Kathryn Jeffs / Southern elephant seal pup (Mirounga leonina), Antarctica, February, Taken on location for BBC Frozen Planet series

Chadden Hunter / Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) close up of sleeping individual, South Georgia. Taken on location for BBC Frozen Planet series, 2008

Troels Jacobsen/Arcticphoto / Portrait of a Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) in water. South Georgia.

Fred Olivier / Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) portrait with seaweed, Macquarie Island, Southern Atlantic, Australian Antarctica, November

Michael Pitts / Southern elephant seal {Mirounga leonina} defense behaviour, Sealion island, Falkland Islands

Michael Pitts / Southern elephant seal {Mirounga leonina} juvenile swimming underwater, Sealion island, Falkland Islands

Edwin Giesbers / Gentoo Penguin {Pygoscelis papua} and Southern Elephant Seals {Mirounga leonina} Antarctica

Gabriel Rojo / Southern elephant seal pup underwater {Mirounga leonina} Valdez peninsula, Argentina

Gabriel Rojo / Southern elephant seal digging into beach {Mirounga leonina} Valdez peninsula, Argentina

Gabriel Rojo / Southern elephant seal on beach {Mirounga leonina} Valdez peninsula, Argentina

Gabriel Rojo / Southern elephant seal resting {Mirounga leonina} Valdez peninsula, Argentina

Gabriel Rojo / Southern elephant seal {Mirounga leonina} Valdez peninsula, Argentina

Doug Allan / Southern elephant seal pair courtship {Mirounga leonina} Antarctica

Doug Allan / Southern elephant seal pair courtship {Mirounga leonina} Antarctica. NB Large difference in size of male and female.

Staffan Widstrand / Southern elephant seal {Mirounga leonina} female defensive threat display, Valdez, Argentina

Staffan Widstrand / Southern elephant seal {Mirounga leonina} female portrait. Valdez, Argentina

Martha Holmes / Southern elephant seal {Mirounga leonina} close-up of hand-like flipper scratching, Falkland Islands.

Peter Bassett / Aggressive bull elephant seal and penguins on beach at St Andrews Bay, South Georgia

Pete Oxford / Southern Elephant Seal moulting, East Falkland Islands (Mirounga leonina)

Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) sleeping weaner pups, St. Andrew's Bay, South Georgia Island

Agustin Esmoris / Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) male calling and bleeding after fight, Puerto Madryn, Argentina

Heike Odermatt / Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) pups, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands

Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) pups, fat and docile weaners stay together for company and reassurance, St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia Island

Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) bull roaring at intruder on beach during breeding season, Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island

Hiroya Minakuchi / Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) mother and pup, Falkland Islands

Tui De Roy / Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) juveniles lounging in tussock grass, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands

Shane Gross / Two juvenile male Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) fighting, Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island.

Shane Gross / Young Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) resting along the water's edge, Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island.

Shane Gross / Male Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) portrait, Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island.

Shane Gross / Male Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) portrait, Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island.

Shane Gross / Three Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) cubs sleeping, Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island.

Shane Gross / Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) cub portrait, Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island.

Shane Gross / Juvenile Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) practice fighting near a King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) colony, Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island.

Shane Gross / Juvenile Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) practice fighting near a King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) colony, Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island.

Shane Gross / Juvenile Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) practice fighting near a King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) colony, Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island.