Elephant seals in Antarctica are a improbable sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of the region’s most unique and recognisable species. Certainly one of our favorite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some enjoyable info about these magnificent creatures and the setting they inhabit. An Antarctic cruise is an icy safari, with many alternative species of animals to observe. Females are smaller and weigh around 7 - 800 kg. An grownup male Elephant seal can weigh up to five tonnes and measure as much as six and a half metres! Elephant seal infants when born weigh around 50 kilograms. Inside 3 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 period for a female Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are highly social animals and form large groups or harems for a month in the course of the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the most important carnivores on this planet eating squid and fish as the primary sources of meals of their weight-reduction plan, and have been measured diving as much as up to 2000m deep and might hold breath for up to 2 hours! Sexual dimorphism is a bodily distinction between the male and feminine of a species. Males may be up to 10 times the weight of reproductive females. Elephant seals might be found across the Antarctic region, but are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They were hunted for his or her blubber in 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 town a year. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic range, so there are nonetheless considerations over the future of these animals. Nonetheless, from a small group of animals left, there are actually an estimated inhabitants of 150,000 which live primarily around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their major predator is the Orca, and in the northern most a part of their vary.. Massive sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been recognized to attack and kill stray younger. They are known as elephant seals on account of plenty of reasons, 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 other males for his harem. The depth and quantity diigo.com/0pxchi 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. Enjoy the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, but keep your distance - regardless of their measurement they can move fast on land, and are highly aggressive when protecting their territory and young. Generally they don't seem to be 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 on your cruise. Regardless of once being on the endangered checklist, as a result of protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is no longer in any speedy hazard. Due to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for serving to put this collectively. However, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human activities might in the future 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 skilled 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.
