Overview
- Photographs of a lilac-hued northern elephant seal at Año Nuevo State Park circulated online in late June and prompted an investigation by park staff and local scientists.
- Park officials concluded the discoloration came from the seal resting on red algae that washed ashore and temporarily dyed its fur, and they say the color will fade over time.
- Experts explicitly ruled out causes tied to health or diet, noting the change was external staining rather than a sign of internal bleeding or disease.
- The sighting occurred during the park’s annual molting season when thousands of elephant seals congregate on the beaches, increasing the chance that animals will contact stranded algae.
- The report comes after a regional HPAI H5N1 event earlier in 2026 that infected dozens of marine mammals, and park staff say they continue routine monitoring but have not reported any new flu-related outbreaks.