Elephant seals in Antarctica are a improbable sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of many region’s most unique and recognisable species. One among our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed here are some enjoyable details about these magnificent creatures and the surroundings 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 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 round 50 kilograms. Within three 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 interval for a female Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are extremely social animals and kind large groups or harems for a month through the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the biggest carnivores on the earth eating squid and fish as the principle sources of food of their weight-reduction plan, and have been measured diving up to as much as 2000m deep and might hold breath for up to two hours! Sexual dimorphism is a physical difference between the male and feminine of a species. Males may be up to 10 occasions the load of reproductive females. Elephant seals can be discovered throughout the Antarctic region, but are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They had been hunted for his or her blubber in elephant stuffed animal the course of the sealing days. Only 2 - 3 % of male Elephant seals truly breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to mild the town a 12 months. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic diversity, so there are still issues over the longer term of those animals. Nonetheless, from a small group of animals left, there are now an estimated inhabitants of 150,000 which stay mainly across the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their most important predator is the Orca, and within the northern most a part of their vary.. Large sharks. Leopard seals have also been recognized to attack and kill stray young. They are known as elephant seals because of a number of causes, partly because of their dimension and in addition partly due to 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 - regardless of their size they'll move quick on land, and are extremely aggressive when defending their territory and younger. Typically they aren't 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. Despite once being on the endangered listing, as a result of protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any rapid hazard. Thanks to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this together. Nonetheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human activities may 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 knowledgeable 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.
