Elephant seals in Antarctica are a improbable sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of many region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. One in all our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some enjoyable facts about these magnificent creatures and the setting 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 as much as six and a half metres! Elephant seal infants when born weigh around 50 kilograms. Within 3 months they'll 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 extremely social animals and type large teams or harems for a month in the course of the breeding season. Elephants seals are amongst the largest carnivores in the world consuming squid and fish as the principle sources of meals of their weight loss program, and have been measured diving up to up to 2000m deep and may hold breath for up to 2 hours! Sexual dimorphism is a physical distinction between the male and feminine of a species. Males may be up to 10 occasions the weight of reproductive females. Elephant seals may be discovered across the Antarctic area, but are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They were hunted for their blubber throughout the sealing days. Solely 2 - 3 % of male Elephant seals truly breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to light town a year. These animals have grown stuffed elephant for baby from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic diversity, so there are nonetheless issues over the long run of these animals. However, from a small group of animals left, there at the moment are an estimated population of 150,000 which reside primarily around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their main predator is the Orca, and in the northern most part of their range.. Massive sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been known to attack and kill stray young. They're referred to as elephant seals as a result of various reasons, partly due to their dimension 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 quantity 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, however keep your distance - despite their size they will transfer fast on land, and are extremely aggressive when defending their territory and younger. Usually they don't seem to be afraid of man, however if disturbed while resting, reproducing or marking territory they can be a unique proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Regardless of as soon as being on the endangered list, as a result of protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is not in any immediate hazard. Thanks to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this collectively. However, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human activities could in the future 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 number one knowledgeable 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.
