Studying the Elephant Seals of the Central Coast
The northern elephant seals at Piedras Blancas (San Simeon, CA) represent the largest mainland breeding colony for the species. In collaboration with California State Parks and the Friends of the Elephant Seal, the VIP lab has initiated a long-term population monitoring program at Piedras Blancas. Our student-run team is known as Team Ellie at Cal Poly. We are studying the ecology and behavior of the animals, to lay the foundations for a greater understanding of our local population.
Learn more at: https://www.calpoly-viplab.com/elephant-seals
Funding sources: Friends of the Elephant Seal, Kathleen A. Curtis Elephant Seal Research Graduate Fellowship Endowment, Santa Rosa Creek Foundation, private donations and the Frost Fund each provide funding for work related to elephant seal research at Cal Poly.
To support Team Ellie, please consider donating to the Elephant Seal Research/Vertebrate Integrative Physiology Lab Fund at this link.
