Elephant seals in Antarctica are a unbelievable sight to behold on any trip to Antarctica and one of the region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. Certainly one of our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed 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 round 7 - 800 kg. An grownup male Elephant seal can weigh up to 5 tonnes and measure as much as six and a half metres! Elephant seal infants when born weigh around 50 kilograms. Within three months they will weigh 150kg! Pups are usually 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 extremely social animals and kind large teams or harems for a month through the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the largest carnivores on this planet consuming squid and fish as the main sources of meals of their weight-reduction plan, and have been measured diving up to up to 2000m deep and might hold breath for up to two hours! Sexual dimorphism is a bodily difference between the male and feminine of a species. Males may be up to 10 occasions the load of reproductive females. Elephant seals may be found across the Antarctic area, but are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They have been hunted for his or her blubber during 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 city a 12 months. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic diversity, so there are still issues over the longer term of those animals. Nonetheless, from a small group of animals left, there at the moment are an estimated inhabitants of 150,000 which dwell primarily 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 part of their range.. Giant sharks. Leopard seals have also been stuffed animal recognized to attack and kill stray young. They are called elephant seals because of a variety of causes, partly because of their measurement and in addition 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. Benefit from the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, however keep your distance - regardless of their dimension they'll move fast on land, and are extremely aggressive when protecting their territory and younger. Usually 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. Regardless of as soon as being on the endangered list, due to the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is no longer in any instant danger. Thanks to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this collectively. Nevertheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions might 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 expert 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.
