You Sat On My Husband

YOU SAT ON MY HUSBAND
South Georgia - 2018

As my team left for South Georgia and hit the high seas, I was reminded of the extraordinary diversity of the fauna on Earth. Ours is a ridiculous planet, and late in the day we are becoming aware of its fragility. Too many humans don’t care, and the many who do understandably have other priorities. We must all try to do our bit—it is now this generation’s legacy.

These bull elephant seals are an example of this diversity. I remember the first time I saw this species in Península Valdés in Argentina when I was in my 20s. I was on my own at the time, which is possible on the peninsula because there is a public dirt-road network that runs parallel to the coastal lagoons. I had a visual disconnect then, and I remember being apprehensive. I was nervous enough driving alone in this remote part of the country, never mind getting out of the car and approaching an elephant seal. These seals would not have been allowed on Noah’s Ark—they would have sunk it. When they fight each other for mating rights, it is equal to two buses colliding. It is one of the greatest spectacles in the natural world.

Thankfully, a friendly king penguin gives this image a sense of scale so you don’t have to take my word for it. The seals are simply colossal. How extraordinary that we share tenancy with such monsters—extraordinary, wonderful, and deeply humbling.

I gave my Instagram followers the opportunity to name this photograph, and they didn’t disappoint. The winning choice out of thousands of entries was You Sat on My Husband, which has now become the official title of this release.
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