Elephant seals in Antarctica are a incredible sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of the region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. One in all our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some enjoyable details 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 around 7 - 800 kg. An grownup male Elephant seal can weigh up to 5 tonnes and measure up to six and a half metres! Elephant seal infants when born weigh around 50 kilograms. Inside three months they are going to weigh 150kg! Pups are usually 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 kind large groups or harems for a month during the breeding season. Elephants seals are amongst the most important carnivores on this planet consuming squid and fish as the principle sources of meals in their eating regimen, and have been measured diving as much as as much as 2000m deep and might hold breath for up to 2 hours! Sexual dimorphism is a physical difference between the male and female of a species. Males may be up to ten times the load of reproductive females. Elephant seals might be discovered across the Antarctic region, but are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They had been hunted for their blubber throughout the sealing days. Solely 2 - 3 % of male Elephant seals actually breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to gentle the city a yr. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic range, so there are nonetheless concerns over the long run of those animals. Nevertheless, from a small group of animals left, there are now an estimated population of 150,000 which reside primarily around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their important predator is the Orca, and within the northern most part of their vary.. Giant sharks. Leopard seals have also been identified to attack and kill stray younger. They are known as elephant seals resulting from numerous reasons, 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 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 measurement they'll move fast on land, and are extremely aggressive when protecting their territory and younger. Generally they are not afraid of man, nevertheless if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a different proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Regardless of as soon as being on stuffed elephant toy the endangered list, as a result of protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is no longer in any speedy hazard. Because of Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for serving to put this collectively. Nonetheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions might 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 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 several seasons.
