10 Details About Elephant Seals - Chimu Adventures Blog

Elephant seals in Antarctica are a implausible sight to behold on any trip to Antarctica and one of the region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. One of our favorite species is the Elephant Seal, here are some enjoyable info 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 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 infants when born weigh around 50 kilograms. Inside 3 months they will weigh 150kg! Pups are usually born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches across the continent. The gestation period for a female Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are extremely social animals and form massive groups or harems for a month in the course of the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the most important carnivores on the earth consuming squid and fish as the main 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 bodily difference between the male and feminine of a species. Males may be up to 10 occasions the weight of reproductive females. Elephant seals might be found across the Antarctic region, however are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They have been hunted for his or her blubber during the sealing days. Only 2 - three % of male Elephant seals truly breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to mild the city a year. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic diversity, so there are still concerns over the long run of these animals. Nevertheless, from a small group of animals left, there are actually 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 in the northern most part of their range.. Large sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been known to assault and kill stray young. They're called elephant seals attributable to numerous causes, partly because of their size 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'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. Enjoy the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, but keep your distance - regardless of their measurement they will transfer quick on land, and are highly aggressive when protecting their territory and younger. Generally they aren't afraid of man, nonetheless if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they can be a unique proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Despite as soon as being on the endangered list, because of the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is no longer in any rapid hazard. Due to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this together. Nonetheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human activities might sooner or later see some points with their native habitat. Dr. Miko was a lecturer on-board our last PinkTarctica Antarctic expedition to the Peninsula and is a number one knowledgeable on Elephant seals and their behaviour. Dr. Mikolaj is a local of stuffed animal elephant Poland, and was base commander of the Polish base on the Antarctic Peninsula for several seasons.