Elephant seals in Antarctica are a unbelievable sight to behold on any trip to Antarctica and one of many region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. Certainly one of our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, listed below are some fun 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 adult 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. Within 3 months they will weigh 150kg! Pups are generally born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches around the continent. The gestation period for a female Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are extremely social animals and type giant teams or harems for a month during the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the biggest carnivores on this planet consuming squid and fish as the primary sources of meals in their diet, and have been measured diving up to up to 2000m deep and may hold breath for up to 2 hours! Sexual dimorphism is a bodily difference between the male and feminine of a species. Males could also be up to ten times the weight of reproductive females. Elephant seals could be found across the Antarctic region, but 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 actually 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 range, so there are still considerations over the future of those animals. Nevertheless, from a small group of animals left, there are actually an estimated inhabitants of 150,000 which stay mainly across the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their most important predator is the Orca, and in the northern most a part of their vary.. Massive sharks. Leopard seals have additionally been recognized to attack and kill stray young. They're known as elephant seals as a result of numerous reasons, partly due to their measurement and also partly due to the male snout or trunk that inflates to impress and intimidate rivals when competing with different 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. Benefit from the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, however keep your distance - despite their measurement they'll move quick on land, and are extremely aggressive when protecting their territory and younger. Usually they don't seem to be 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 in your cruise. Regardless of as soon as being on the endangered checklist, because of the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal j6fwallhouseuw5.hpage.com/post2.html is now not in any speedy danger. Due to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this collectively. Nevertheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human activities may in the future 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 a number of seasons.
