10 facts 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 unique and recognisable species. One in all our favorite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some fun details about these magnificent creatures and the atmosphere 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 adult male Elephant seal can weigh up to 5 tonnes and measure up to 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 typically 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 giant groups or harems for a month through the breeding season. Elephants seals are amongst the biggest carnivores on the planet eating squid and fish as the principle sources of meals of 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 bodily difference between the male and feminine of a species. Males may be up to ten occasions the weight of reproductive females. Elephant seals will be found across the Antarctic area, but are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They have been hunted for his or her blubber in the course of the sealing days. Solely 2 – three % of male Elephant seals truly breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to gentle the town a yr. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic variety, so there are still issues over the long run of these animals. However, from a small group of animals left, there are actually an estimated inhabitants of 150,000 which live 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 part of their range.. Large sharks. Leopard seals have also been recognized to attack and kill stray young. They are known as elephant seals because of numerous causes, partly because of their measurement and in addition 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 quantity of the sound is a demonstration to others how powerful 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, however keep your distance – regardless of their size they can transfer quick on land, and are extremely aggressive when protecting their territory and young. Generally they aren't afraid of man, nonetheless if disturbed while resting, reproducing or marking territory they can be a different proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Regardless of once being on the endangered list, as a result of protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is no longer in any instant hazard. Due to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this together. However, over-fishing of baby elephant stuffed animals Antarctic waters and human actions 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 leading skilled on Elephant seals and their behaviour. Dr. Mikolaj is a local of Poland, and was base commander of the Polish base on the Antarctic Peninsula for several seasons.