Elephant seals in Antarctica are a unbelievable sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of the region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. One among our favorite species is the Elephant Seal, listed here are some fun details about these magnificent creatures and the environment they inhabit. An Antarctic cruise is an icy safari, with many various species of animals to observe. Females are smaller and weigh round 7 - 800 kg. An adult male Elephant seal can weigh up to five tonnes and measure up to six and a half metres! Elephant seal babies when born weigh around 50 kilograms. Within three months they are going to weigh 150kg! Pups are generally born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches around the continent. The gestation period for a female Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are extremely social animals and type massive teams or harems for a month through the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the largest carnivores on this planet eating squid and fish as the main sources of meals in their eating regimen, and have been measured diving as much as up to 2000m deep and may hold breath for up to two hours! Sexual dimorphism is a bodily difference between the male and feminine of a species. Males could also be up to ten occasions the weight of reproductive females. Elephant seals will be discovered throughout the Antarctic area, however are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They had been hunted for his or her blubber through the sealing days. Solely 2 - three % of male Elephant seals truly breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to gentle town a 12 months. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic diversity, so there are still concerns over the future of those animals. Nevertheless, from a small group of animals left, there are now an estimated population of 150,000 which reside mainly around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their principal predator is the Orca, and in the northern most a part of their vary.. Giant sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been recognized to assault and kill stray young. They are called elephant seals as a consequence of a lot of reasons, partly due to their size and also partly due to the male snout or trunk that inflates to impress and intimidate rivals when competing with other males for his harem. The depth and volume of the sound is a demonstration to others how highly effective he's, and thus so avoids fights with competing males. The trunk is inflated with air which is inhaled and thus a loud bellowing sound is produced. Benefit from the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, but keep your distance - regardless of their measurement they'll move quick on land, and are extremely aggressive when protecting their territory and young. Usually they aren't afraid of man, stuffed animal elephant however if disturbed while resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a different proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Regardless of as soon as being on the endangered record, because of the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any rapid hazard. Due to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for serving to put this together. However, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions may in the future see some issues with their native habitat. Dr. Miko was a lecturer on-board our last PinkTarctica Antarctic expedition to the Peninsula and is a number one professional on Elephant seals and their behaviour. Dr. Mikolaj is a local of Poland, and was base commander of the Polish base on the Antarctic Peninsula for a number of seasons.
