Elephant seals in Antarctica are a fantastic sight to behold on any trip to Antarctica and one of many region’s most unique and recognisable species. One in every of our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, stuffed elephant for baby listed below are some fun facts 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 up to six and a half metres! Elephant seal infants when born weigh around 50 kilograms. Within three months they will weigh 150kg! Pups are generally 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 extremely social animals and type massive groups or harems for a month during the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the biggest carnivores on the planet eating squid and fish as the principle sources of food of their food plan, and have been measured diving as much as up to 2000m deep and may hold breath for up to two hours! Sexual dimorphism is a physical distinction between the male and female of a species. Males may be up to ten instances the load of reproductive females. Elephant seals could be found throughout the Antarctic area, however are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They had been hunted for his or her blubber in the course of the sealing days. Solely 2 - 3 % of male Elephant seals actually breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to gentle the city a year. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic range, so there are still issues over the future of these animals. Nonetheless, from a small group of animals left, there are actually an estimated population of 150,000 which reside mainly around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their primary predator is the Orca, and within the northern most a part of their range.. Massive sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been identified to attack and kill stray young. They're referred to as elephant seals on account of a number of reasons, partly because of their measurement and also 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 volume 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, but keep your distance - despite their dimension they'll move fast on land, and are extremely aggressive when protecting their territory and younger. Typically they aren't afraid of man, however if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a different proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter in your cruise. Regardless of as soon as being on the endangered checklist, due to the safety of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any quick hazard. Thanks to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this together. However, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions could 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 skilled 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.
