Elephant seals in Antarctica are a implausible sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of many region’s most unique and recognisable species. One in all our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some fun facts about these magnificent creatures and the environment they inhabit. An Antarctic cruise is an icy safari, with many alternative species of animals to observe. Females are smaller and weigh round 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 3 months they'll weigh 150kg! Pups are typically born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches across the continent. The gestation period for a feminine Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are highly social animals and kind massive teams or harems for a month through the breeding season. Elephants seals are amongst the most important carnivores on the planet consuming squid and fish as the primary sources of meals of their weight loss program, and have been measured diving as much as up to 2000m deep and may hold breath for up to 2 hours! Sexual dimorphism is a physical difference between the male and feminine of a species. Males may be up to 10 occasions the weight of reproductive females. Elephant seals will be found throughout the Antarctic area, however are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They have been hunted for his or her blubber through the sealing days. Solely 2 - three % of male Elephant seals actually breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to light the 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 longer term of those animals. Nonetheless, from a small group of animals left, there at the moment are an estimated inhabitants of 150,000 which live primarily across the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their primary predator is the Orca, and stuffed elephants in the northern most a part of their range.. Massive sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been identified to assault and kill stray younger. They are referred to as elephant seals as a consequence of quite a lot of reasons, partly due to their size and also 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 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. Benefit from the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, however keep your distance - despite their size they can move fast on land, and are highly aggressive when defending their territory and younger. Usually they are not afraid of man, nevertheless if disturbed while resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a different proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Despite as soon as being on the endangered listing, as a result of protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is not in any immediate danger. Thanks to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this collectively. Nonetheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions may 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 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.
