Elephant seals in Antarctica are a improbable sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of the region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. One of our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some fun details about these magnificent creatures and the surroundings they inhabit. An Antarctic cruise is an icy safari, with many various species of animals to observe. Females are smaller and weigh around 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. Inside three months they may weigh 150kg! Pups are typically born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches across the continent. The gestation period for a female Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are highly social animals and kind large groups or harems for a month through the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the most important carnivores on the earth eating squid and fish as the primary sources of food in their food plan, and have been measured diving up to up to 2000m deep and may hold breath for up to 2 hours! Sexual dimorphism is a bodily difference between the male and female of a species. Males may be up to ten times the weight of reproductive females. Elephant seals could be found throughout the Antarctic region, however are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They have been hunted for his or her blubber throughout the sealing days. Solely 2 - 3 % of male Elephant seals really breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to mild town a yr. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic diversity, so there are still considerations over the long run of those animals. However, from a small group of animals left, there at the moment are an estimated inhabitants of 150,000 which stay primarily around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their principal predator is the Orca, and within the northern most a part of their vary.. Massive sharks. Leopard seals have also been known to assault and kill stray young. They're known as elephant seals as a result of a variety of causes, partly due to their dimension and in addition 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 quantity 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. Enjoy the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, however keep your distance - despite their measurement they will move fast on land, and are highly aggressive when protecting their territory and younger. Usually stuffed elephant for baby they don't seem to be afraid of man, nonetheless if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a different proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter in your cruise. Regardless of once being on the endangered record, because of the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any rapid danger. Thanks to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this together. However, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human activities could 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 expert 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 several seasons.
