UPDATE: Elephant Seal Relocated, Confirmed Pregnant

CHP Marin shared the above photo of The Marine Mammal Center working to get Tolay the elephant seal back out to the bay on Dec. 29, 2015.

UPDATE 8:30 P.M.:

ALONG HIGHWAY 37-After several failed attempts to redirect a pregnant elephant seal away from state Highway 37, wildlife officials have sedated the animal and loaded it onto a truck bound for an established elephant seal colony at Chimney Rock on the Point Reyes National Seashore.

Veterinarians confirmed that the seal is healthy and in good condition. Using a blood test and an ultrasound they also confirmed that she’s pregnant, according to the Marine Mammal Center.

Center officials spent much of Tuesday attempting to nudge the adult female seal away from Tolay Creek back toward San Pablo Bay and the open ocean beyond using a kayak and noisemakers, but the animal resisted their efforts.

It was quite an undertaking, however. The area around the creek is muddy and the seal, which wildlife officials described as healthy and in good condition, weighs in at an estimated 900 pounds.

Barbie Halaska, a research assistant with the Marin County-based Marine Mammal Center, said it was unclear why the seal was trying to cross the road - but that such behavior could be driven by the animal’s pregnancy.

Elephant seals tend to give birth this time of year, in December or January, according to Marine Mammal Center Officials.

-Bay City News