Elephant seals in Antarctica are a incredible sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of many region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. Certainly one of our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, here are some fun info about these magnificent creatures and the environment 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. Inside 3 months they will weigh 150kg! Pups are typically 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 highly social animals and form giant teams or harems for a month throughout the breeding season. Elephants seals are amongst the most important carnivores on this planet consuming squid and fish as the primary sources of meals of their weight-reduction plan, and have been measured diving as much as up to 2000m deep and may hold breath for up to two hours! Sexual dimorphism is a physical difference between the male and feminine of a species. Males may be up to 10 occasions the load of reproductive females. Elephant seals can be discovered throughout the Antarctic area, but are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They were hunted for his or her blubber during the sealing days. Solely 2 - three % of male Elephant seals actually breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to mild the town a year. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic variety, so there are still considerations over the long run of these animals. Nevertheless, from a small group of animals left, there are now an estimated inhabitants of 150,000 which reside primarily across the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their main predator is the Orca, and in the northern most part of their range.. Giant sharks. Leopard seals have also been known to assault and kill stray younger. They're called elephant seals as a consequence of plenty of causes, partly due to 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 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, however keep your distance - despite their dimension they will move 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 whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they can be a special proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Despite as soon as being on the endangered list, because of the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any speedy danger. Because of Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for serving to put this together. However, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions might in the future see some issues http://just6fwallhousedz2.theglensecret.com/10-info-about-elephant-seals-chimu-adventures-weblog 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 native of Poland, and was base commander of the Polish base on the Antarctic Peninsula for a number of seasons.
