What, you didn’t know California had wild Zebras? Well, don’t feel bad, neither did I, until I saw them grazing with the cows on the side of the road in Big Sur and nearly ran off the road!
Apparently William Randolph Hearst imported them long ago from Africa to roam around his castle with his cows.
It must have been good to be William Randolph Hearst.
These are definitely California elephant seal kids. They stole someone’s boogie board and there is no way they are giving it back! Probably ripped it off from some Southern California kid and boogied north on it. What, you didn’t know elephant seals boogie boarded? Don’t feel bad, neither did I.
Like many California kids, all they want to do is surf and sleep, and hang out at the beach.
This is exactly what I did when I was a California kid.
It’s good to be a Ellie kid!
Thank you for your patience with my elephant seal photos, this is the last of them! Cheers to you from Caly’s Zebras & Ellie Kids~
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I do enjoy your photographs..thank you:)
Grateful that you do!! <3 <3
At least it was rich to be W.R. Hearst. San Simeon is quite something.
You know I have never been and don’t feel an urge too, although I have heard it is remarkable. I guess I am just not into American Kings & their castles! 😉
Ditto on all that. I do admire castle architecture. 🙂
I love your elephant seal photos! Never too many for me. The castle was so beautiful; is it still that way?
I have never visited the castle, for some reason American castles are a turn off to me. I love old real ones though…..
Love all these photos. The elephant seals are rather endearing. But those zebras. Oh, my. I had no idea there were zebras in California! See what you learn reading blogs! Thanks for sharing!
Can you imagine driving along and seeing a mass of them grazing with the cows??? Hilarious…….I had no idea. My husband’s like yeah, those are wild zebra! 😉
Loved the series. They sure know how to relax (except in mating season). Zebras? Holy Doppler Effect. Did you know there were camels and sloths and miniature horses and capibaras (SIC) in Florida? Hearst was not responsible for it.
Once again, nice pics. Poor boogie boarders.
I did not know about the sloths, capiberas and camels in Florida. I have seen their massive pythons though and hear they are breeding prodigously. There are piranha somewhere too. Good to hear William wasn’t involved with all this, he was responsible for quite enough, thank you!! 😉
They don’t live there now. They lived there in prehistoric times. When I lived there for almost a year I used to dig for their fossils in the Peace River. Lots of fun and educational too.
Take care,
Wally
the zebras are gorgeous Cindy.
They really are aren’t they! I saw a lot of them in Africa, but never expected them roadside in California!
I’ve missed you and your exquisite photos. Oh how I miss Big Sur and the Central Coast of California where we had the divine blessing of living 13 years. The wild zebras seems like something cooked up between Eastwood and the Hurst family. Eastwood has allowed some of the animals from the Hurst Castle location moved to The Mission Ranch. Perhaps the ranch was a bit to calm and the zebras made their way down to Big Sur. There’s nothing like watching the Elephant Seal Kids at play. We loved to watch them up close and personal. Tom and I had a favorite place we would hike into where we could wait for whatever wonder happened by. We’d spend wondrous hours basking in the beauty of the surf and the grander of the crashing waves. We shared our small stretch of beach with the ‘Kids’ more than once and it was as if heaven’s gates opened. Thanks for allowing me to bask in sharing wonderful memories. When Tom wakes today, even for a few moments, I hope to share your shots of the seals and the coast with him. Thank you, Cindy.
Awwww, so very glad I posted and I do hope Tom enjoys them. The Big Sur area has to be one of the most beautiful in the world, enhanced by it’s solitariness. The return of the otters and elephant seals is something I never thought to see in my lifetime and you are right, it thrills me too, to the bottom of my toes. Cheers to you Sherri, and to Tom. Tell him the seal kids say hello~
Cindy – I always leave Tom’s i-Pad set up to your site and a couple other photographers he especially likes. Often I’m not sure when he’s reading but you can bet your tripod that he’ll tell me all about it when we have our sit down breakfast or dinner. This series of photos brought us particular joy and we so needed it. Tom’s physical condition has deteriorated and last week we entered into the wheelchair phase. Let’s hope all the physical therapy, etc. works for him. His body has taken such a beating. Thank you for the time he forgets the pain and can become lost in your photographs. He never fails to tell me what a splendid photographer you are.
If I haven’t already, I want to thank you Cindy for doing what you do by highlighting your love of nature’s living treasures.
lots of hugs and holiday cheer,
Linda
Visa versa 2 U x 2 my kind friend. Hugs and Happy Holidays! <3
Interesting stories around Hearst Castle, Cindy. It is worth visiting, a bit of Americana. I ran into Patty once up in the Sierra Nevada mountains when she was kidnapped/hanging out with the SLA. One of these days I blog about it. –Curt
Uhhhh, yeah I think you should! Her parents owned a house in La Jolla where I grew up, prime location off of Big Rock. I wonder who lives there now? I never saw Patty, but I did sell my Blue Bird nuts to the Hearsts……I felt they could have afforded to buy more!!! 😉
So, I have to ask… what are blue bird nuts? Inquiring minds want to know. 🙂
Fabulous. How wonderful and yes, when you are one of the richest people you can have zebras in your YARD:) The seals are adorable:)
I would want elephants and rhinos too, a whole game santuary…… There used to be buffalo free ranging on Camp Pendleton. I wonder if they are still there….
We have wild zebras in California? Wow!
See, we can call Caly the Zebra State!
Pozdrowienia z Warszawy
Piękna Polska . Czy mogę powiedzieć, moja babcia była Polską ? Jej nazwisko było Piontek. Muszę odwiedzić wkrótce!
What wonderful pictures and the funny stories behind them.. Take care and happy blogging to ya…
And back to you my friend~ <3
Beautiful photos, I have always loved Zebras.
We walked among bunches of them in Africa. We are supposed to go back to South Africa in 2015. I want to see them again! <3
I recently went to a friend’s Texas ranch and was astonished to see it had more African wildlife than Texas cattle!
I visited a place in the UK when I was a kid that had the whole range of African animals, including free roamning giraffe! The ranch must have been quite the experience!
Another wonderful series! <3
Awwww, so happy you enjoyed & thank you!
…surf and sleep, and hang out at the beach, what a life! 🙂 Thank you for taking us there… I’m so delighted to see these beautiful animals. Great photos, Cindy!
Almost makes you want to be a kid again……… 😉
Yea… 🙂 🙂
Wow zebras in California. great shots.
Who knew? My husband I guess. He was like, “yea didn’t you know?” 😉
What great fun!
We just thought they were wonderful. Did you know they often stop breathing on the sand, for up to 30 minutes!
I didn’t know that. I grew up in S.Cal., but never heard about the zebras.
Born here and I never knew. Jim was born and raised in Iowa. He knew! 😉
Ha, ES beach bums!
I’d forgotten about WRH’s menagerie. Have you toured his castle? Not my cup of tea, but pretty impressive.
No, I haven’t because like you I am not fond of American kings and their castles, but I do hear it is amazing, not on my list though. I’d rather see your otters and minks!
Zebras in CA are definitely surprising! That face forward of the seal is the most adorable picture! 🙂
He was a very cute snotty nosed kid, but I didn’t just say that!!!! 😉 😉
LOL! <3
Such happy critters roaming free and boogying in Big Sur! 🙂
Happy elophant kids with their boogie board. Do you think I should get them another one for Xmas?????
I love visiting yours and Lee’s blog. The pictures you put together are so wonderful and entertaining. Thanks for all that you do. Happiest of Holidays 🙂
Why thank you very much and Happy Holidays to you. Love your blog too! Whose Lee?
oh lol she does the blog http://planetearthnewsletter.org/ I have seen you comment there and thought you knew each other. You both have wonderful photography blogs.
Great zebra pics! They are gorgeous! I would love to see the Hearst castle some day!! I also would have loved being a California kid!! Nice warm weather! Hugz Lisa and Bear
Well to be fair, there are fires, floods, drought and gang violence too. Hugz back to you guys and Happy Holidays!
Such cute faces. The Zebra and the Cow. Probably not a good name for a rock group. Great photos!
How about ZebraCows? I like it. Are you playing?
That’s much better. They could do a striped version of Hair! 😉
Gorgeous, I also like the vibrant, high key zebra images.
Quite a surprise to see a herd of them munching along the road with the cows~
Beautiful photos, Cindy! I had not heard of the zebras in California before either!
Who knew???? You and I both!
Lovely photos <3
So kind & appreciated!
I actually did know about the zebras from a visit to the area but I can understand why you almost drove off the road. 🙂 Lovely captures as always Cindy.
My husband knew, he was like, “Oh yeah those are the zebras.”
I’m like, “What zebras?”
Laughing….
fabulous photos Cindy 🙂
Mil grazi~
No patience required; I’ve been enjoying the Ellies. 🙂 Your photos are always worth taking time for.
Awwww, this is such a lovely comment from a lovely person! <3
Where did you take these pictures at, Cindy?? I couldn’t follow you…cuz I’m old. And how did you get so CLOSE to the seals??
Laughing. This is the last post in a series, so the earlier ones explain this one which is probably impossible to follow!! 😉 These are taken in Big Sur about a week ago. At the closest I was about 10 feet above them.
Ten feet??? You remind me of a scene from “Happy Feet” where the penguins move in slo-mo to get away from an attacking seal!
That last seal pup is just begging you to go over and give his tummy a tickle Cindy. That is a beautifully caught shot of the 2 zebras gazing into the distance.
Oh that is exactly how I felt. The mamas and especially the papas wouldn’t have appreciated it though!!
Those zebras look right at home there in California…and no lions to be looking out for all the time! Great photos as usual.
Exactly what I thought! The whole species might petition for asylum…..
That’s a good life! Wild Zebras and Ellie kids! And new learnings every day 🙂
Essentially life in Big Sur is good, if rather remote!
fun times on the CA coast!
As long as the great whites don’t come a’calling!
🙂
That’s amazing! I had no idea. Nice shot, Cindy :-).
Well thank you, I think the last is the best, such a beautiful animal~
I just love zebras! Some great shots, Cindy.
Zebras blend into one another in the most unusual way, making them look like works of art. I love them too~
Love the matched pair in the second photo.
They were like mirror images weren’t they, such pretty animals!
I love this area… always a kick to see the elephant seal rookery… and I was amazed on my visits to Hearst Castle to see the zebras roaming free… the last remaining descendants of the originals. Enjoyed the photos!
So happy you have been there and thanks for the kind words!
Sorry my delay my friend…i was traveling…maybe the next time i get some photos as yours….Laughing here….You are so so good….
Your photos are divine! I hope you had a wonderful time and am glad you are safely home. Merry Christmas my friend~ <3
Liebe Cindy da sind dir ja wieder super Fotos gelungen einfach wunderschein eine gute Nacht wünscht dir Klaus und noch eine schöne Woche Klaus
Alles Gute zum Advent und frohe Weihnachten meine Art Freund!
Absolutely impressive, dear Cindy
Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀
:star: ★ :star: :star: ★ :star: :star: ★
Merry Christmas to you and yours & the very best New Year! <3 <3
Zebras and seals are a great combo!
A bit unorthodox for SoCal! 😉
I heard a super sad story recently about the Hearst Zebras. Sounds like the neighbor ranchers shoot them when they cross out of the Hearst property because the Zebras are a “menace”, and then the ranchers turn the Zebras into rugs 🙁 I hate people sometimes.
Oh man, that is horrible. People can be the cruelest species on the planet, they can also be the kindest. Hard to figure, I know. Hang in there……
It was indeed good to be William Randolph Hearst! Love the photo of the zebra and the cow peacefully munching together: that is something you don’t see in Africa!
Yes, we were in Africa and are going back next year and this is exactly what I thought. I had a pick of the two herds blending together that demostrated that no, this is not Africa and no it is not a zoo!!
This series has been a treat for an inland person like me! 😁
Oh, I am so glad, I get entranced by certain animals and sometimes worry people think, four posts on elephant seals???? Come on already! So, I am happy you enjoyed them~
Liebe Cindy, das ist wunderschön, beste Grüße, Klaus
Vielen danke mein Freund! <3
I learned a lot of new things from this post, Cindy! Who would have thought there were wild zebras in California? And I LOVE the picture of the seals with the boogie board. 🙂
It completely cracked me up, they were surrounding and guarding it. It was sooooo Californina!! 😉
How did the zebra get wild? Were they imported, then escaped and became feral?
Lol, your pics are not only beautiful, they are also provocative! Thanks Cindy!!!
William Hearst built a castle nearby for himself and his movie star girlfriend in the long gone olden, golden days. He imported the zebra from Africa because he could. They are thriving to this day and graze freely with the cattle. Weird I know, but hey, it’s California! 😉
I am so in awe of Hearst, so glad he chose to let zebras go wild! I would have driven off the road, or nearly so…
I loved the seals, both days. The one with the big eyes is adorable. I found your comments about surfing and the boogie board so amusing, Cindy. You were really a California girl, sounds like!
Sadly, I am a aging, soon to be in my Olden-Golden years, California girl. Oh God, I just thought this is like that terrible TV show with Bea Arthur, the Golden Girls. God, I’m almost a Golden Girl…….help me Mr Wizard!!!
Oh, Cindy, I just so loved this post! It is so good to hear people care about animals like you have written about. Your photos are awesome and the one I just fell in LOVE with is the close up of the seal’s face. The gentleness and innocence portrayed is incredible! How did you manage to get a shot like that? Just awesome job all the way around! Love, Amy
Oh so glad you see the seals as I do, gentle and innocent is exactly right and thank you for your kind and thoughtful comment! <3
Cindy – your seal posts have been adventurous and so nice. I also like your upbeat take on things – for example, when I saw the piece of boogie board – I thought trash – and then your fun comment about the seals using it had me laughing = and diffused my critical side. 🙂
also love the zebra and the cow head-to-head shot – felt like friendship. 🙂
Oh what wonderful things to say! Perception is fascinating isn’t it? Two people looking at the same thing, may see it entirely differently. I am very glad you enjoyed the post and that it made you laugh. We need to laugh as much as possible! Cheers & thank you~
Alles Gute, liebe Cindy, mache es gut, Klaus
Vielen danke Klaus!!
Such a brilliant post dear Cindy ! Adorable animals,loved all their portaits,but the one with the zebra and the cow grazing together,was so sweet ! Have a wonderful day !
I love that too, it was like they were showing us that animals can get along, why can’t humans!!!! 😉
Absolutely dear Cindy ! Animals haveso much to teach us !!! Warm Greetings from this end 🙂
OMG! I love zebras and had no idea! We are going down that way early February. I hope I see them. Amazing shots. 🙂
I hope you do too and suspect you will. They graze in the areas near Hearst castle. A little bit of Africa in California~
Amazing
Klasse Fotos. LG. Wolfgang
Danke schoen Wolfgang!
We saw the elephant seals, but not the zebras last year when we did the drive to Heart Castle.
Oscar
So glad you had a chance to see the ellies. I have been to Big Sur many times and never saw the zebras, of course I wasn’t looking for them as I didn’t know they were there. I think if one is consciously looking, one will find them.
I’ve yet to see a Zebra round Lake Chapala, Mexico, but I’ll keep looking. A belated visit to you wonderful sight, been on writing retreat. feliz navidad y feliz año nuevo
Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo para usted y gracias por sus amables comentarios!
Cool dudes! And I love the Zebras…so nice to see them in a natural environment than the ones I saw in the zoo 🙂
Yes, zoos don’t do justice to zebras do they? They need to be on open plains~
Their natural environment is always best 🙂
Your post put a big broad light hearted smile on my face! Zebra is one of my totem animals….I would be in quite a state if I ran into wild zebras here in North america! Lucky lucky to get so close to these amazing creatures.
It was a big thrill and a surreal surprise!
Love the photos! particularly of the elephants seals. the close up is adorable. Good to see the zebras in a safe environment
Yes, safe wild animals are a true joy to encounter and they seem to enjoy seeing us sometimes too!
ohhhhh
Pretty adorable aren’t they!
I do wish there were zebras grazing in the fields of Sussex and elephant seals basking on the beaches of my seaside town. But never mind, they’re probably better off somewhere less crowded — a bit like me, really!
And me!!! .I definitely gravitate to places less crowded! I am now picturing zebras grazing in Sussex! Laughing….
Heart melting! Those eyes …..
I know, can you imagine them being hunted to a world population of less than 50? And they are still tolerant of our presence. Amazing how foolish people can be……
So beautiful! I love these little guys! That seal face is the cutest little thing! It was saying HI! 😀
Laughing…..I think you are right about that!!!
😄😄😄💗
Love the portrait of the elephant seal ~ I think if you showed him/her, you’d have a new fan and a lot of portrait work with your new friends 🙂
Hmmmmmm, wonder if I should try this……. 😉
🙂 that is such a precious shot…cheers!
Cheers 2 U!
Californian coastline is very like a lot we have here. And I loved the Zebras. Thanks so much for your support this year. Scattered words will close but Cryptic Garland will keep going.
Have a wonderful Christmas. John
You too my friend and I have very much enjoyed your wonderful blog!
Reblogged this on Luz, essência da imagem….
Thank you so much! Your thoughtfulness is most appreciated! Cheers to you and Happy New Year~
That ‘smiling’ seal is so sweet. It put a smile on my own face.
Ahhhhh, so glad, this post was then worthwhile if it made you smile! 🙂
Fascinating post:)
I certainly never knew Caly had wild zebras!