Elephant seals in Antarctica are a incredible sight to behold on any trip to Antarctica and one of the region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. One in every of our favorite species is the Elephant Seal, listed here are some enjoyable facts 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 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 infants when born weigh around 50 kilograms. Within 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 around 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 stuffed elephant toy a month through the breeding season. Elephants seals are amongst the biggest carnivores on the earth eating squid and fish as the main sources of food in their weight loss plan, and have been measured diving as much as as much as 2000m deep and might hold breath for up to two hours! Sexual dimorphism is a physical difference between the male and female of a species. Males may be up to 10 times the load of reproductive females. Elephant seals may be discovered throughout the Antarctic region, however are most prevalent around the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They were hunted for their blubber through the sealing days. Only 2 - 3 % of male Elephant seals actually breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to gentle town a year. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic range, so there are still issues over the long run of these animals. Nevertheless, from a small group of animals left, there are actually an estimated population of 150,000 which live primarily across the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their main predator is the Orca, and in the northern most a part of their vary.. Large sharks. Leopard seals have also been identified to attack and kill stray younger. They are referred to as elephant seals as a consequence of various causes, partly due to their dimension and likewise 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 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, but keep your distance - regardless of their size they can move fast on land, and are extremely aggressive when protecting their territory and younger. Typically they don't seem to be afraid of man, however if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a unique proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter in your cruise. Regardless of as soon as being on the endangered list, due to the safety of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is not in any fast hazard. Because of Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for helping put this collectively. Nonetheless, 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 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.