Southern Elephant Seal Photo © Lee Dingain

Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina

The Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) are the largest of all seals with males reaching 4-5 m in length and 3 500 kg in weight (females are smaller - usually under 3 m in length and only 500 kg in weight). Southern elephant seals are grayish brown in colour and are covered with thick blubber. Mature males have a large 'trunk', or proboscis which is used to amplify the sounds they make and, together with their big grey bodies, give rise to their name 'elephant' seal. They are found throughout the southern oceans.

Southern elephant seals were hunted relentlessly for fur and oil throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, but with protection numbers have recovered dramatically. The current population is estimated at 650,000 individuals but during the past 40 years there have been declines which are believed to be due to population overshooting the maximum sustainable population size following the end of commercial sealing. Populations are now thought to be stable.

The Southern Elephant Seal has been classified as lower risk by the IUCN (See IUCN Red List of Threatened Species for more information on the classification of the Southern Elephant Seal).

Southern Elephant Seal Photo © Lee Dingain

Help Protect the Southern Elephant Seal and Other Wildlife in Patagonia

The World Land Trust project on the Ranch of Hopes Wildlife Refuge in Patagonia safe-guards the coastal steppes and adjacent coastline, where Southern Elephant Seal occur. Please help protect this area by supporting the Patagonia Restoration Fund.

More Information about Southern Elephant Seals and Their Habitat

• Read more about Patagonia
• Find more information on the Southern Elephant Seal on ARKive: Images of life on Earth