Elephant seals in Antarctica are a fantastic sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of many region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. Considered one of our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some enjoyable info 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 round 7 - 800 kg. An grownup 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. Within three months they are going to 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 feminine Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are highly social animals and form massive groups or harems for a month in the course of the breeding season. Elephants seals are amongst the largest carnivores on the earth consuming squid and fish as the primary sources of meals of their food 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 female of a species. Males could also be up to 10 occasions the burden of reproductive females. Elephant seals may be discovered throughout the Antarctic region, but are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They have been hunted for their 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 light the town a 12 months. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic variety, so there are still issues over the longer term of these animals. Nevertheless, from a small group of animals left, there at the moment are an estimated population of elephant stuffed animal 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 a part of their range.. Massive sharks. Leopard seals have also been identified to assault and kill stray younger. They are referred to as elephant seals as a consequence of various causes, partly because of their measurement and in addition 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 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. Enjoy the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, but keep your distance - despite their size they'll transfer fast on land, and are extremely aggressive when defending their territory and young. Generally they aren't afraid of man, nonetheless if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a special proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter in your cruise. Despite as soon as being on the endangered record, because of the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is no longer in any rapid hazard. Thanks to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for serving to put this collectively. However, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions might 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 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 a number of seasons.
