Experts at Año Nuevo State Park determined a purple-tinted elephant seal seen on Bight Beach was stained by red algae. Park staff compared the color to "a bath in grape juice," and early theories included diet or internal injury. Marine mammal specialists confirmed the coloration was an external stain from algae, not a sign of sickness.
Purple Elephant Seal at California Beach Traced to Red Algae, Not Illness
Park experts at California's Año Nuevo State Park say a recently photographed elephant seal with a striking purple tint was stained by red algae after resting on seaweed — not suffering from an internal injury.
The seal was seen on Bight Beach with a coloration park staff colorfully likened to "it took a bath in grape juice." Early guesses ranged from a diet of purple sea urchins to internal bleeding, but marine mammal specialists examined the situation and identified algae as the source of the unusual hue.
“Resting on red algae on the beach has given this seal its striking appearance, just in time for summer,” officials wrote on Instagram.
Officials and specialists say the purple tint appears to be an external, superficial stain from contact with the algae rather than a sign of illness. Park staff encouraged visitors to admire wildlife from a safe distance and avoid disturbing seals on the beach.
The photo drew public interest for its vivid coloring and served as a reminder that wildlife can display surprising appearances that are often harmless and temporary.
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