Elizabeth (elephant seal)

Elizabeth was an elephant seal that lived in the Christchurch, New Zealand, Avon / Ōtākaro and Ōpāwaho / Heathcote rivers beginning in the late 1970s until her death in 1985. She would sunbathe on the riverbanks, often in Dallington,[1] but she also made an appearance at Taylors Mistake.[2] She would occasionally get onto the roads, even getting hit by a car in 1985, but she was not injured. The Ministry of Transport would scare her into going into the Heathcote River using sirens and lights, but the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 prevented authorities from "disturbing" her.[1] In 1985 Elizabeth died on Scarborough Beach, to a viral infection, according to an autopsy.[1][3]

Children's book

In 2014, American long distance swimmer and author Lynne Cox published a children's picture book about Elizabeth, named Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas. The book is fictional but is based on real events. Cox learnt about Elizabeth in 1983 when she was in Christchurch and was asked if she was looking for the elephant seal.[4] In the book, Elizabeth is named "Queen of the Seas" by the residents of Christchurch. Elizabeth is almost hit by a car however, leading authorities to move her hundreds of kilometres away three times, but each time the sea elephant swims back to the river.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Memories of Avon River's sea elephant". The Press. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Update on sea 'friend'". The Press. 20 January 1984. Retrieved 6 July 2025 – via Papers Past.
  3. ^ "1980: The reign of Elizabeth". Stuff. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Elizabeth the elephant seal stars in book". The Press. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Suitable Swimming". The New York Times. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  6. ^ "'Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas' picture book beautifully celebrates beast and man". The Washington Post. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
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