Southern Elephant Seal
Description
Protected by the following WLT projects:
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.
Habitat
They are found throughout the southern oceans.
Threats and Conservation
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.
Help protect Southern elephant seal habitat: Make a donation to the WLT
Learn
- See IUCN Red List of Threatened Speciesfor more information on the classification of the Southern Elephant Seal
- Elephant Seal Wildlife Wallpapers from Wildlife Focus
