Ella continues to thrive and gain weight. She's close enough to the beachmaster to enjoy the aura of his protection. Gulls hang around, in case another pup is born.
Two more pups were born near Ella overnight. One was on the outskirts of the beachmaster's influence, and two young males harassed the mother. She was a strong defender, fighting them off, but she was under siege.
She needed help. Another bull, less dominant than the beachmaster, but bigger than the young males harassing her, imposed order. He chased the youngsters away.
Keeping the peace on the beach is an important function of dominance. No need to fight: less dominant bulls retreat. They fight sometimes, but more than 80 percent of dominance interactions do not advance to actual fighting.
The new pup needed his mother's attention.
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