Elephant seals in Antarctica are a incredible sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of the region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. One in every of our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some fun facts about these magnificent creatures and the setting they inhabit. An Antarctic cruise is an icy safari, with many alternative 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 as much as six and a half metres! Elephant seal babies when born weigh around 50 kilograms. Within three months they will weigh 150kg! Pups are typically 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 form large groups or harems for a month throughout the breeding season. Elephants seals are amongst the most important carnivores in the world consuming squid and fish as the main sources of food of their food plan, and have been measured diving as much as up to 2000m deep and may hold breath for up to 2 hours! Sexual dimorphism is a physical distinction between the male and female of a species. Males could also be up to ten occasions the load of reproductive females. Elephant seals can be discovered throughout the Antarctic area, however are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula stuffed animal elephant and sub-Antarctic islands. They have been hunted for his or her blubber through the sealing days. Only 2 - three % of male Elephant seals truly breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to mild town a year. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic range, so there are nonetheless considerations over the long run of these animals. However, from a small group of animals left, there are now an estimated inhabitants of 150,000 which reside primarily around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their most important predator is the Orca, and in the northern most part of their vary.. Large sharks. Leopard seals have also been known to assault and kill stray young. They are referred to as elephant seals as a consequence of numerous reasons, partly because of their dimension and also 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'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, but keep your distance - regardless of their dimension they'll transfer quick on land, and are extremely aggressive when defending their territory and young. Generally they aren't afraid of man, however if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a unique proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Despite as soon as being on the endangered checklist, as a result of protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any fast hazard. Because of Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this collectively. However, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions could in the future see some points with their native habitat. Dr. Miko was a lecturer on-board our final PinkTarctica Antarctic expedition to the Peninsula and is a leading 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 a number of seasons.
