Elephant seals in Antarctica are a fantastic sight to behold on any trip to Antarctica and one of the region’s most unique and recognisable species. One in every of our favorite species is the Elephant Seal, here are some fun info about these magnificent creatures and the setting 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 5 tonnes and measure as much as six and a half metres! Elephant seal infants when born weigh round 50 kilograms. Inside 3 stuffed elephant for baby months they may weigh 150kg! Pups are usually born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches around the continent. The gestation period for a feminine Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are extremely social animals and kind large teams or harems for a month through the breeding season. Elephants seals are amongst the largest carnivores on the planet consuming squid and fish as the primary sources of food 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 instances the weight of reproductive females. Elephant seals could be found throughout the Antarctic area, but are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They were hunted for his or her blubber during the sealing days. Solely 2 - 3 % of male Elephant seals really breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to gentle the city a 12 months. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic variety, so there are nonetheless concerns over the longer term of those animals. Nonetheless, from a small group of animals left, there are now an estimated population of 150,000 which live primarily around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their fundamental predator is the Orca, and in the northern most a part of their range.. Massive sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been known to assault and kill stray younger. They are called elephant seals as a result of a variety of reasons, partly because of their size and in addition partly because of the male snout or trunk that inflates to impress and intimidate rivals when competing with other males for his harem. The depth and quantity of the sound is a demonstration to others how highly effective he is, 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. Enjoy the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, however keep your distance - despite their size they can transfer fast on land, and are highly aggressive when defending their territory and young. Generally they are not afraid of man, nevertheless if disturbed while resting, reproducing or marking territory they can be a unique proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter in your cruise. Regardless of once being on the endangered listing, because of the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is not in any fast hazard. Due to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this collectively. Nevertheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions may sooner or later 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 leading knowledgeable on Elephant seals and their behaviour. Dr. Mikolaj is a native of Poland, and was base commander of the Polish base on the Antarctic Peninsula for a number of seasons.
