- The seal appeared to sense the turtle was in distress and joined it for 20 minutes
- The moment was caught on camera by Beat Korner by Olowalu Beach, Hawaii
- He said: ‘All happened very calmly without any signs of hurry or distress’
A turtle and a seal make an unlikely pair of friends as they cling together underwater.
The playful monk seal appeared to sense the turtle was in distress and joined it for 20 minutes.
The three-year-old seal placed its flippers around the turtle while lying on top of it like it was cuddling it.
Unlikely friends: The playful monk seal sensed the green turtle was in distress and joined it for 20 minutes to hug it
This cute interaction was caught by photographer Beat Korner, 62, while he was underwater by Olowalu Beach in Hawaii, USA.
Mr Korner, of Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, Canada, said: ‘The large turtle was there to feed on green algae and green weed and was entangled in some fine fish line wrapped around its front flippers and through its beak so it couldn’t move its head.
‘This distress may have attracted the seal to investigate and it hung around for 20 minutes to hug, push and nibble the turtle.
‘The turtle was swimming along and seemed not to mind the seal at any time.
Adorable: The three-year-old seal placed its flippers around the turtle while lying on top of it like it was cuddling it
‘All happened very calmly without any signs of hurry or distress.
‘Even when the seal nibbled on the turtle’s head and flippers the reptile never bolted or fought back.’
This cute interaction was caught by photographer Beat Korner, 62, while he was underwater by Olowalu Beach in Hawaii, USA