The female retires to consider her verdict. It’s hard not to feel deflated when even your best isn’t good enough.

The sun influences the lives in the ocean just as it does on land. Its richest parts are those where waves and currents bring fertilizing nutrients to surface waters that are bathed in sunlight. The seas off the Cape in South Africa have this magic recipe and are hugely productive. Summer is a time of plenty and it’s now that the seals start to breed.