This was probably the closest our co-founder paulnicklen has ever come to dying in the wild. Over decades of filming some of the planet’s most powerful animals, he’s built his career on being calm, patient, and respectful. Let the animal lead the interaction. That mutual trust has opened doors to once-in-a-lifetime encounters—and kept him safe through (almost) all of them. In 2008, in South Georgia, Antarctica, Paul tried to be the first person to film a breeding male elephant seal underwater. These animals can weigh over 7,000 lbs and reach 20 feet long, similar to a pickup truck. During breeding season, they go into this kind of trance: breed or kill. As soon as Paul entered the water, the bull spotted him and charged. Mistaking him for a rival, the seal tried to crush him again and again. Paul thought, “So this is how it’s going to end.” Thankfully, he survived, but he learned a valuable lesson: respect is everything, and curiosity has its limits. #ElephantSeal #CloseCall #Nea...