From December through March, a breeding colony of elephant seals can be observed from this excellent vantage point above beautiful Drakes Bay near Chimney Rock. Elephant seals, hunted nearly to extinction, have made a remarkable comeback. These marine mammals spend almost all their lives in the deep ocean waters, diving to depths of a mile in search of food. Adult male elephant seals, which can weigh up to 2,250 kilograms (~5,000 pounds), have a huge overhanging proboscis (nose), hence their name. The males are the first to arrive here, in December, to stake out a claim on the beach. Then pregnant females begin to arrive and soon give birth to a single pup. Subadult and juvenile animals arrive and the colony can number close to one hundred animals.