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 of our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some fun details about these magnificent creatures and the environment 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 may 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 kind massive groups or harems for a month through the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the most important carnivores on the planet eating squid and fish as the primary sources of meals in their diet, and have been measured diving as much as as baby elephant stuffed animals much as 2000m deep and may hold breath for up to two hours! Sexual dimorphism is a bodily distinction between the male and feminine of a species. Males could also be up to 10 occasions the burden of reproductive females. Elephant seals may be found throughout the Antarctic region, however are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They had been hunted for his or her blubber through the sealing days. Only 2 - 3 % of male Elephant seals really 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 diversity, so there are still considerations over the longer term of those animals. However, from a small group of animals left, there are actually an estimated population of 150,000 which reside primarily around 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 vary.. Massive sharks. Leopard seals have also been identified to assault and kill stray younger. They are known as elephant seals as a result of various reasons, partly because of their size and likewise partly due to the male snout or trunk that inflates to impress and intimidate rivals when competing with other 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. Benefit from the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, however keep your distance - regardless of their size they can move fast on land, and are highly aggressive when protecting their territory and young. Generally they aren't afraid of man, nonetheless if disturbed while resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a unique proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Despite as soon as being on the endangered record, because of the safety of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is not in any speedy hazard. Because of Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for serving to put this collectively. Nevertheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human activities may sooner or later see some issues with their native habitat. Dr. Miko was a lecturer on-board our final PinkTarctica Antarctic expedition to the Peninsula and is a number one 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 a number of seasons.
