Elephant seals in Antarctica are a implausible sight to behold on any trip to Antarctica and one of many region’s most unique and recognisable species. Certainly one of our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, here are some fun information 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 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 babies when born weigh around 50 kilograms. Inside three months they may weigh 150kg! Pups are usually born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches around 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 throughout the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the most important carnivores on the earth eating squid and fish as the principle sources of food of their food plan, and have been measured diving as much as as much as 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 ten occasions the burden of reproductive females. Elephant seals could be discovered throughout the Antarctic area, however are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They were hunted for his or her blubber in the course of the sealing days. Solely 2 - 3 % of male Elephant seals truly breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to gentle town a 12 months. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic range, so there are still issues over the long run of those 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 fundamental predator is the Orca, and in the northern most a part of their range.. Massive sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been recognized to attack and kill stray young. They're referred to as elephant seals on account of numerous reasons, partly due to their size and in addition partly because of 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 stuffed elephants 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'll transfer fast on land, and are highly aggressive when defending their territory and younger. Usually they don't seem to be afraid of man, nonetheless if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they can be a unique proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Despite once being on the endangered list, as a result of safety of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any quick danger. Because of Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this collectively. Nevertheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions could in the future see some points with their native habitat. Dr. Miko was a lecturer on-board our final 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.
