Elephant seals in Antarctica are a incredible sight to behold on any trip to Antarctica and one of the region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. One among our favorite species is the Elephant Seal, here are some enjoyable facts about these magnificent creatures and the surroundings they inhabit. An Antarctic cruise is an icy safari, with many various species of animals to observe. Females are smaller and weigh round 7 - 800 kg. An adult male Elephant seal can weigh up to five tonnes and measure up to six and a half metres! Elephant seal infants when born weigh around 50 kilograms. Inside 3 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 large groups or harems for a month through the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the biggest carnivores on the planet consuming squid and fish as the main sources of meals of their food regimen, and have been measured diving up to as much as 2000m deep and may hold breath for up to two hours! Sexual dimorphism is a physical distinction between the male and feminine of a species. Males may be up to ten times the burden of reproductive females. Elephant seals can be discovered across the Antarctic area, however are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They were hunted for his or her blubber in elephant stuffed animal the course of the sealing days. Only 2 - 3 % of male Elephant seals actually breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to gentle the town a year. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic range, so there are still concerns over the longer term of these animals. However, from a small group of animals left, there at the moment are an estimated population of 150,000 which stay mainly across the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their essential predator is the Orca, and in the northern most a part of their vary.. Giant sharks. Leopard seals have also been recognized to assault and kill stray young. They're called elephant seals because of a number of causes, partly because of their size and also 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 volume of the sound is a demonstration to others how powerful 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 - despite their dimension they can move fast on land, and are highly aggressive when protecting their territory and young. Typically they don't seem to be afraid of man, nonetheless if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a distinct proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Despite once being on the endangered record, due to the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is not in any rapid danger. Due to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for serving to put this together. Nevertheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human activities could 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 leading professional 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.
