Elephant seals in Antarctica are a improbable sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of many region’s most unique and recognisable species. Certainly one of our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some enjoyable info about these magnificent creatures and the setting they inhabit. An Antarctic cruise is an icy safari, with many different 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 round 50 kilograms. Inside three months they are going to 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 feminine Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are highly social animals and form large teams or harems for a month in the course of the breeding season. Elephants seals are amongst the most important carnivores on the earth consuming squid and fish as the principle sources of meals of their food regimen, 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 difference between the male and female of a species. Males could also be up to 10 occasions the weight of reproductive females. Elephant seals could be discovered across the Antarctic area, however are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They have been hunted for their blubber in the course of the sealing days. Only 2 - three % of male Elephant seals truly breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to light town a 12 months. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic diversity, so there are nonetheless considerations over the long run of these animals. Nevertheless, from a small group of animals left, there are actually an estimated inhabitants of 150,000 which stay mainly around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their main predator is the Orca, and within the northern most part of their range.. Massive sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been identified white elephant stuffed animals to attack and kill stray younger. They're called elephant seals resulting from quite a few causes, 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 volume 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. Benefit from the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, but keep your distance - despite their size they can move fast on land, and are extremely aggressive when protecting their territory and younger. Typically they don't seem to be afraid of man, however if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they can be a different proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Regardless of as soon as being on the endangered list, due to the safety of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is no longer in any rapid hazard. Due 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 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.
