SEA ELEPHANT AT WELLINGTON
LENGTH ESTIMATED AT MORE THAN 20 FEET “The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON, November 24. A giant sea elephant attracted many spectators at Day’s Bay yesterday morning. Estimated to be more than 20 feet in length, it played round, at times only 100 yards offshore, for two hours. Observers said that the animal was grey, with a large round body and head. It played in and out of the waves, disappearing beneath the water for long periods. A night-shift worker returning home at 5 a.m. yesterday saw the sea elephant well above the high tide mark at the north end of Eagtbourne beach. “I thought it was a boat overturned when I first sighted it,” he said. “I’ve seen sea elephants before, but never one as large as this. “I stopped and went down to see what it was. I thought it was dead. I got within 10 feet, when it suddenly lunged forward and barked. “It was a real old warrior, with battle scars and a large, bulbous snout. I thought for a while it was going to damage boats and nets pulled up on the beach, but it finally turned and wallowed like some huge slug into the sea.” When last seen yesterday morning about 11 o’clock, the sea elephant was heading north, up the harbour.
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Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25970, 25 November 1949, Page 8
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221SEA ELEPHANT AT WELLINGTON Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25970, 25 November 1949, Page 8
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