Highway-crossing elephant seal gives birth to pup

POINT REYES STATION, Calif., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The traffic-stopping elephant seal rescued from a busy stretch of California highway in late December has given birth to a pup, parks officials said.

Rescuers theorized the 500-pound seal might have been preparing to give birth when she repeatedly attempted to cross Highway 37 in Sonoma County in late December. The Point Reyes National Seashore, where the seal was relocated, shared photos on Facebook showing the seal with her newborn.

The post said the pup was born Saturday morning and officials watched the birth from the elephant seal overlook at Chimney Rock.

The mother seal was dubbed Tolay by rescuers.