Why would I get in the water when there’s a perfectly nice spot right here? This photo shows Isaac the Northern fur seal getting some quality time snoozing on the deck on a chilly February afternoon.
You might notice that he's tucked into a giant pear shape. Those tucked flippers indicate the seal is trying to conserve heat. Splayed flippers, particularly spreading the webbing of the hind flippers indicates a seal is trying to dissipate heat. So, changing a flipper position helps Isaac maintain a consistent core temperature.
He does this more often when he's molting in the summer.
Marine Mammal Trainers