Elephant seals in Antarctica are a improbable sight to behold on any trip to Antarctica and one of many region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. One among our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some fun information about these magnificent creatures and the atmosphere 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 as much as six and a half metres! Elephant seal babies when born weigh round 50 kilograms. Inside three months they will weigh 150kg! Pups are generally 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 extremely social animals and form giant teams or harems for a month in the course of the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the most important carnivores on the earth eating squid and fish as the principle sources of meals of their weight loss program, and have been measured diving as much as up to 2000m deep and can hold breath for up to two hours! Sexual dimorphism is a bodily difference between the male and female of a species. Males may be up to ten instances the load of reproductive females. Elephant seals could be discovered across the Antarctic area, however are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. stuffed animal They were hunted for his or her blubber in the course of the sealing days. Solely 2 - three % of male Elephant seals really breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to gentle the town a yr. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic variety, so there are still issues over the future of those animals. Nevertheless, from a small group of animals left, there at the moment are an estimated inhabitants of 150,000 which live mainly around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their primary predator is the Orca, and in the northern most a part of their vary.. Large sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been identified to assault and kill stray younger. They're referred to as elephant seals resulting from numerous reasons, partly due to their measurement and in addition partly because of 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, but keep your distance - regardless of their dimension they can transfer fast on land, and are highly aggressive when defending their territory and young. Typically they aren't afraid of man, nonetheless if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they can be a unique proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Despite as soon as being on the endangered listing, because of the safety of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any instant danger. Due to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for serving to put this collectively. Nevertheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human activities may sooner or later see some points with their native habitat. Dr. Miko was a lecturer on-board our last PinkTarctica Antarctic expedition to the Peninsula and is a number one expert 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.
