Elephant seals in Antarctica are a incredible sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of the region’s most unique and recognisable species. One among our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some fun information about these magnificent creatures and the atmosphere they inhabit. An Antarctic cruise is an icy safari, with many different 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 as much as six and a half metres! Elephant seal babies when born weigh round 50 kilograms. Inside 3 months they are going to weigh 150kg! Pups are generally born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches across the continent. The gestation interval for a feminine Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are extremely social animals and kind massive teams or harems for a month during the breeding season. Elephants seals are amongst the largest carnivores in the world consuming squid and fish as the main sources of meals of their food plan, and have been measured diving up to as much as 2000m deep and may hold breath for up to two hours! Sexual dimorphism is a bodily difference between the male and female of a species. Males may be up to 10 occasions the load of reproductive females. Elephant seals will be found throughout the Antarctic area, but are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They have been hunted for his or her blubber in the course of the sealing days. Only 2 - 3 % of male Elephant seals actually breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to light town a year. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic diversity, so there are still concerns over the longer term of those animals. Nevertheless, from a small group of animals left, there are actually an estimated population of 150,000 which dwell primarily across the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their foremost predator is the Orca, and in the northern most a part of their range.. Giant sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been identified to attack and kill stray younger. They're called elephant seals because of quite a stuffed elephants lot of causes, partly because of their size and likewise partly due to the male snout or trunk that inflates to impress and intimidate rivals when competing with different males for his harem. The depth and quantity of the sound is a demonstration to others how powerful 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. Benefit from the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, however keep your distance - regardless of their size they'll transfer fast on land, and are highly aggressive when protecting their territory and young. Usually they don't seem to be afraid of man, nonetheless if disturbed while resting, reproducing or marking territory they can be a unique proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Regardless of once being on the endangered record, because of the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is no longer in any quick danger. Thanks to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for serving to put this together. Nonetheless, 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 final PinkTarctica Antarctic expedition to the Peninsula and is a number one skilled 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.
