Elephant seals in Antarctica are a incredible sight to behold on any trip to Antarctica and one of the region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. Certainly one of our favorite species is the Elephant Seal, listed here 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 white elephant stuffed animals and weigh around 7 - 800 kg. An grownup male Elephant seal can weigh up to 5 tonnes and measure as much as six and a half metres! Elephant seal babies when born weigh round 50 kilograms. Inside three months they will 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 female Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are highly social animals and kind massive 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 in their weight loss program, and have been measured diving as much as as much as 2000m deep and can 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 ten instances the load of reproductive females. Elephant seals might be discovered throughout the Antarctic region, but are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They were hunted for their blubber through the sealing days. Only 2 - three % of male Elephant seals truly breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to mild 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 future of those animals. Nevertheless, from a small group of animals left, there are now an estimated population of 150,000 which stay primarily across the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their main predator is the Orca, and in the northern most a part of their range.. Massive sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been recognized to assault and kill stray young. They're called elephant seals due to a lot of causes, partly because of their measurement 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 highly effective he is, 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 dimension they can transfer quick on land, and are extremely aggressive when protecting their territory and younger. Typically they aren't afraid of man, nevertheless if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they can be a special proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Regardless of once being on the endangered record, as a result of safety of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any speedy hazard. Thanks to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this together. Nevertheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions might in the future see some issues with their native habitat. Dr. Miko was a lecturer on-board our final PinkTarctica Antarctic expedition to the Peninsula and is a leading professional 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 several seasons.
