Elephant seals in Antarctica are a improbable sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of the region’s most unique and recognisable species. Certainly one of our favorite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some enjoyable info about these magnificent creatures and the surroundings 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 white elephant stuffed animals weigh up to 5 tonnes and measure as much as six and a half metres! Elephant seal babies when born weigh round 50 kilograms. Inside 3 months they'll weigh 150kg! Pups are usually born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches across the continent. The gestation interval for a female Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are highly social animals and type giant teams or harems for a month in the course of the breeding season. Elephants seals are amongst the biggest carnivores in the world consuming squid and fish as the primary sources of food of their food regimen, and have been measured diving up to up to 2000m deep and may hold breath for up to two hours! Sexual dimorphism is a physical distinction between the male and female of a species. Males could also be up to ten times the burden of reproductive females. Elephant seals may be found across the Antarctic area, however are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They had been hunted for his or her blubber in the course of the sealing days. Only 2 - three % of male Elephant seals really breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to light 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 those animals. Nevertheless, from a small group of animals left, there are now an estimated inhabitants of 150,000 which dwell primarily across the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their important predator is the Orca, and in the northern most a part of their range.. Large sharks. Leopard seals have also been identified to assault and kill stray young. They're known as elephant seals due to numerous causes, partly due to their measurement 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 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. Enjoy the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, however keep your distance - regardless of their size they'll move quick on land, and are highly aggressive when defending their territory and younger. Usually they are not afraid of man, nevertheless if disturbed while resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a different proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Regardless of as soon as being on the endangered checklist, due to the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is not in any fast danger. Because of Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this collectively. However, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions may sooner or later 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 native of Poland, and was base commander of the Polish base on the Antarctic Peninsula for several seasons.
