Elephant seals in Antarctica are a implausible sight to behold on any trip to Antarctica and one of the region’s most unique and recognisable species. One in every of our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed here are some fun info 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 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 babies when born weigh round 50 kilograms. Inside 3 months they will weigh 150kg! Pups are typically born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches around the continent. The gestation period for a feminine Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are highly social animals and type giant teams or harems for a month during the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the largest carnivores on the earth eating squid and fish as the main sources of food in their weight loss plan, and have been measured diving as much as as much as 2000m deep and may 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 times the weight of reproductive females. Elephant seals may be discovered across the Antarctic region, but are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They had been hunted for his or her blubber throughout the sealing days. Solely 2 - three % of male Elephant seals actually breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to mild town a year. 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 around the Baja baby elephant stuffed animals Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their principal predator is the Orca, and in the northern most part of their vary.. Large sharks. Leopard seals have also been identified to attack and kill stray young. They are called elephant seals resulting from various causes, partly due to their dimension and in addition partly because of 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 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. Enjoy the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, however keep your distance - regardless of their dimension they'll move fast on land, and are extremely aggressive when protecting their territory and young. Generally they don't seem to be afraid of man, however if disturbed while resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a unique proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Regardless of as soon as being on the endangered checklist, as a result of protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is not in any immediate danger. Because of Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this collectively. However, 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 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.
