10 facts about elephant seals chimu adventures weblog

Elephant seals in Antarctica are a incredible sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of many region’s most unique and recognisable species. Certainly one of our favorite species is the Elephant Seal, here are some enjoyable details about these magnificent creatures and the surroundings 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 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 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 female Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are highly social animals and kind giant groups or harems for a month throughout the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the most important carnivores on this planet eating squid and fish as the main sources of food in their diet, 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 weight of reproductive females. Elephant seals can be found throughout the Antarctic area, however are white elephant stuffed animals most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They were hunted for his or her blubber during the sealing days. Solely 2 – 3 % of male Elephant seals really 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 diversity, so there are nonetheless considerations over the long run of those animals. However, from a small group of animals left, there are now an estimated population of 150,000 which dwell mainly across the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their essential predator is the Orca, and within the northern most a part of their range.. Massive sharks. Leopard seals have also been identified to assault and kill stray young. They are known as elephant seals due to a number of causes, partly due to their size and in addition partly because of the male snout or trunk that inflates to impress and intimidate rivals when competing with other males for his harem. The depth and volume of the sound is a demonstration to others how powerful 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 measurement they can move quick on land, and are extremely aggressive when protecting their territory and young. Usually they are not afraid of man, nevertheless if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they can be a unique proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter in your cruise. Regardless of once being on the endangered record, due to the safety of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any rapid danger. Due to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for serving to put this together. 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 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 a number of seasons.