Earlier this year, beachgoer Guadalupe and a few friends were enjoying a relaxing day of sun and sand on Argentina’s scenic Playa Chapadmalal when their plans — and many of their personal belongings — were quite suddenly upended.
The busy beach, a popular destination among tourists, had also become a favorite lounging site for a young local elephant seal.
And unfortunately for Guadalupe and her friends, they were in his spot. But as footage of the seal’s arrival shows, they didn’t stay for long:
Coming face-to-face with a pushy elephant seal hadn’t been on the agenda for the friends' day at the beach.
“It scared and impressed me,” Guadalupe told The Dodo.
Wildlife authorities advise beachgoers not to approach or disturb marine animals, and Guadalupe
and her friends wisely gave the seal plenty of space. Fortunately, a ranger appeared to be on the scene to keep other beachgoers at a proper distance as well.
It's unclear how long Guadalupe and her friends had to wait before the seal moved on and they could reclaim the beach gear he'd ransacked. But the unexpected visitor certainly transformed an ordinary day at the beach into one they won't soon forget.
