10 Information About Elephant Seals - Chimu Adventures Weblog 92567

Elephant seals in Antarctica are a fantastic sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of the region’s most unique and recognisable species. One in all our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed here are some fun information about these magnificent creatures and the atmosphere they inhabit. An Antarctic cruise is an icy safari, with many various 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 up to six and a half metres! Elephant seal babies 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 around the continent. The gestation period for a feminine Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are extremely social animals and kind massive groups or harems for a month in the course of the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the biggest carnivores on the planet consuming squid and fish as the main sources of food in their weight loss program, and have been measured diving up to up to 2000m deep and can hold breath for up to two hours! Sexual dimorphism is a physical difference between the male and female of a species. Males could also be up to ten times the burden of reproductive females. Elephant seals can be found across the Antarctic area, but are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They were hunted for his or her blubber through 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 concerns over the longer term of those animals. However, 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 part of their range.. Large sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been known to attack and kill stray young. They're known as elephant seals attributable to plenty of reasons, 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 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 - despite their dimension they will move quick stuffed elephants on land, and are extremely aggressive when protecting their territory and young. Typically they aren't afraid of man, nevertheless if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a distinct proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Regardless of as soon as being on the endangered checklist, because of the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any quick hazard. Thanks to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this collectively. Nonetheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human activities may sooner or later 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 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.