ELEPHANT SEAL THAT JUST GAVE BIRTH VS SEAGULLS <br />WITH PIX AND VID<br />By Shuk Yee Tsang<br />A dramatic birth on a beach quickly turned into chaos as seagulls swooped in around a newborn elephant seal.<br />Jodi Frediani, 77, from Santa Cruz, California, a marine photographer and whale researcher, captured the extraordinary moment at Año Nuevo State Park on the north side of Monterey Bay.<br />The female northern elephant seal gave birth right in front of the viewing area during an after-hours tour.<br />Moments after the pup dropped onto the sand, gulls descended in large numbers. <br />They first pecked at the pup’s umbilical cord, still attached, then scrambled over one another to feed on the placenta.<br />The mother barked loudly and lunged at the birds, attempting to protect her newborn from the frenzy.<br />Jodi said: “You'd think the mother would get to rest after giving birth, but no. Doesn't seem to be in the cards.<br />“The gulls descend, first to snack on the pup's umbilical cord, still attached. <br />"Then to scramble for a chance to feed on the placenta, not even waiting for it to have been completely passed. <br />“I have had the good fortune to have observed and photographed several births. However, I've never seen a birth as exciting as this one.<br />“Along with the rest of my group, we were all very excited to have witnessed the birth of a new elephant seal pup."<br />END
