Elephant seals in Antarctica are a implausible sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of the region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. One among our favorite species is the Elephant Seal, listed here are some fun details about these magnificent creatures and the surroundings they inhabit. An Antarctic cruise is an icy safari, with many different species of animals to observe. Females are smaller and baby elephant stuffed animals weigh around 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. Within three months they will 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 female Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are extremely social animals and kind massive groups or harems for a month during the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the biggest carnivores on the earth eating squid and fish as the main sources of food in their food plan, and have been measured diving as much as up to 2000m deep and might hold breath for up to 2 hours! Sexual dimorphism is a bodily distinction between the male and feminine of a species. Males may be up to ten instances the load of reproductive females. Elephant seals will be found throughout the Antarctic area, but are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They had been hunted for their blubber in the course of the sealing days. Only 2 - three % of male Elephant seals actually breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to light town a year. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic diversity, so there are still considerations over the future of those animals. However, from a small group of animals left, there are actually an estimated population of 150,000 which dwell primarily around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their fundamental predator is the Orca, and in the northern most part of their vary.. Large sharks. Leopard seals have also been known to assault and kill stray young. They're called elephant seals on account of a variety of causes, partly due to their size and also 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 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, however keep your distance - despite their dimension they can transfer quick on land, and are highly aggressive when protecting their territory and young. Typically they are not afraid of man, nonetheless if disturbed while resting, reproducing or marking territory they can be a special proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter in your cruise. Despite as soon as being on the endangered checklist, as a result of protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is no longer in any quick danger. Because of Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this collectively. Nevertheless, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions could 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 professional 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.