Elephant seals in Antarctica are a improbable sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of the region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. Certainly one of our favorite species is the Elephant Seal, here are some fun details about white elephant stuffed animals these magnificent creatures and the environment they inhabit. An Antarctic cruise is an icy safari, with many alternative species of animals to observe. Females are smaller and weigh around 7 - 800 kg. An adult 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'll weigh 150kg! Pups are generally born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches across the continent. The gestation period for a feminine Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are extremely social animals and form large teams or harems for a month during the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the largest carnivores in the world consuming squid and fish as the principle sources of meals in their weight loss plan, and have been measured diving up to up to 2000m deep and might hold breath for up to 2 hours! Sexual dimorphism is a bodily difference between the male and female of a species. Males could also be up to 10 occasions the weight of reproductive females. Elephant seals can be found throughout the Antarctic area, however 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. Only 2 - three % of male Elephant seals truly 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 nonetheless concerns over the longer term of these animals. However, from a small group of animals left, there at the moment are an estimated population of 150,000 which live primarily across the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their foremost predator is the Orca, and in the northern most part of their vary.. Large sharks. Leopard seals have also been identified to attack and kill stray younger. They're known as elephant seals as a result of a lot of causes, partly due to their measurement and likewise partly because of 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 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, but keep your distance - despite their dimension they'll move quick on land, and are highly aggressive when protecting their territory and younger. Generally they are not afraid of man, nevertheless if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a special proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Regardless of once being on the endangered listing, due to the protection of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any rapid danger. Thanks to Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this together. However, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions might in the future see some points 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 a number of seasons.