Elephant seals in Antarctica are a unbelievable sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of many region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. Considered one of our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below 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 around 7 - 800 kg. An grownup male Elephant seal can weigh up to five tonnes and measure up to six and a half metres! Elephant seal infants when born weigh round 50 kilograms. Within 3 months they may weigh 150kg! Pups are generally born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches around the continent. The gestation interval for a female Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are highly social animals and kind giant groups or harems for a month throughout the breeding season. Elephants seals are amongst the largest carnivores in the world eating squid and fish as the main sources of meals of their food plan, and have been measured diving up to up to 2000m deep and might hold breath for up to two hours! Sexual dimorphism is a physical distinction between the male and female of a species. Males may be up to 10 times the load of reproductive females. Elephant seals might be discovered throughout the Antarctic region, but are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They were hunted for his or her blubber during the sealing days. Only 2 - three % of male Elephant seals truly breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to mild the city a 12 months. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic variety, so there are still considerations 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 reside primarily around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their major predator is the Orca, and in the northern most part of their vary.. Giant sharks. Leopard seals have also been known to attack and kill stray younger. They are called elephant seals due to various reasons, partly due to their size and likewise 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 volume of the sound is a demonstration to others how powerful 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, however keep your distance - regardless of their dimension they'll transfer fast on land, and are highly aggressive when protecting their territory and young. Typically they don't seem to be afraid of man, nevertheless if disturbed while elephant stuffed animal resting, reproducing or marking territory they can be a special proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter in your cruise. Regardless of as soon as being on the endangered checklist, because of the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any instant hazard. Because of Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for serving to put this together. Nonetheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human activities may 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 leading knowledgeable 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.
