FRIENDS OF THE ELEPHANT SEAL

With an expanding seal colony, new interpretive programs are currently underway to prevent wildlife disturbances and to promote human safety at public beaches populated by these incredible marine mammals. Future goals include further development of interpretive programs in the San Simeon-based Elephant Seal Visitor Center, as well as programs to engage the public in science education, ocean stewardship and wildlife protection.

The Friends of the Elephant Seal organization provides training and administrative services supporting the delivery of free public education services 365 days per year at the Piedras Blancas Northern Elephant Seal Rookery, reaching 200,000 of the 1 million visitors per year. Dedicated volunteer guides also offer an interactive science-based experience for over 2000 primary and secondary education students annually.

In 2022, our organizational leadership opened an expanded Elephant Seal Visitor Center in San Simeon, serving 20,000 visitors per year. The 1000 sq ft Center offers a variety of educational and interactive exhibits, enabling visitors to learn about the anatomy, physiology, annual cycle and natural history of the northern elephant seal and other marine species.

Since 2012, the organization has sponsored a a university-affiliated student internship program to promote field-based education and careers in marine and environmental science. In addition to a community-based outreach program, a dedicated Community Science team contributes to university and agency research efforts with ongoing observations of the elephant seal colony.

The Friends of the Elephant Seal organization contributes to education, science, research and wildlife conservation efforts relating to the largest mainland colony, estimated at 25,000 northern elephant seals. Working on a volunteer basis, 365 days a year, our 100+ docents welcome 200,000 visitors from all over the world each year at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Viewing Area and the San Simeon-based Elephant Seal Visitor Center. Volunteers provide visitors with printed copies of E-Seal News, a 4-page informative newsletter, which provides a reference for visitors.

Docents/guides share their expertise and help visitors to learn about the lives of northern elephant seals and other marine life along the central coast of California. The training committee organizes a high quality professional docent training program and continuing education through hybrid, virtual, in-person mentoring and live presentations.

The organization fosters an active Community Science program, enabling active data collection by volunteers in collaboration with researchers at the California Polytechnic State University, and University of California Santa Cruz. Interns further assist university researchers and present their findings to volunteers.

Multiple social media and online communications channels provide the latest information about the elephant seal colony. To augment in-person educational programs, short seasonal videos are also available online in 14 languages. Two live streaming beach cams provide real-time video imagery, accessible to the public, all over the world, through a web-based interface.

The Friends of the Elephant Seal is a Cooperating Association with the California State Parks.

Since established in 1997, the organization has grown to over 100 docents while the rookery has grown from under 100 to approximately 25,000 elephant seals. The Friends of the Elephant Seal has throughout it's history been financially stable, but in need of further financial assistance to achieve it's future goals of:

- expanding volunteer recruitment and training efforts to increase active volunteers to 150;
- developing new online and in-person interpretive exhibits in the newly opened Elephant Seal Visitor Center;
-expanding educational and interpretive programs for the public, both virtually and at the rookery locations, in response to changes in the elephant seal colony
-contributing to scientific data collection on the composition of the Piedras Blancas colony and inter-colony migration
- providing additional avenues for community engagement such as school and club visits, both at community facilities and at the rookery;