Why This Elephant Seal Turned Bright Purple In SMC

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — A bright purple elephant seal spotted at Año Nuevo State Park has been turning heads online, but park officials say there's no cause for alarm.

The unusually colored marine mammal was photographed at Bight Beach, a protected coastal area located within Año Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County, by docent Irene Reti after volunteers noticed what appeared to be a seal that had "taken a bath in grape juice."

Some initially wondered whether the seal's purple hue came from eating sea urchins or was the result of internal bleeding.

Instead, experts determined the color came from the seal resting on a bed of red algae that temporarily dyed its fur, according to Año Nuevo State Park. The natural pigments wash away once the seal returns to the ocean.

The sighting comes during elephant seal molting season, when thousands of the animals haul out at Año Nuevo between April and August to shed their outer layer of skin and fur.

The incident follows an unusual few months for the famous elephant seal colony. Earlier this year, the park temporarily closed portions of its seal viewing area after highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, was confirmed in northern elephant seals for the first time in California. The outbreak infected dozens of elephant seals before ending in March.

Another colorful natural phenomenon has also been attracting attention along the Bay Area coast this year. In Marin County, beaches have recently been covered by blooms of purple, jelly-like sea snails known as violet snails, which wash ashore when winds and currents push them toward land.

Despite the seal's unusual appearance, experts say it is perfectly healthy — just sporting a temporary purple makeover courtesy of nature.