There are fewer than 2,100 Mediterranean and Hawaiian monk seals alive today. But elephant seals survived out of sight, with the population reduced to an estimated 200 animals. 1. save. Elephant Seal Hunting Habits. Nonetheless, elephant seals are still prone to entanglement in marine debris, collisions of sea vessels, and interactions with fishing industries. 2] The Elephant Seal takes its name from its rather large proboscis. Seals are found along most coasts and cold waters, but a majority of them live in the Arctic and Antarctic waters. The southern elephant seal is not endangered, and its conservation status is ‘Least Concern’. For thousands of years Southern elephant seals were hunted for their oil; however, hunting is currently regulated by the International Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals. A few years later, when elephant seals began appearing in southern California waters, the United States gave the seals the same protection. When elephant seals hauled out, they were easy to harvest. They now number approximately 85,000. Elephant Seals are not endangered. According to the IUCN Red List, both species are considered to be Least Concern. Populations of northern elephant seals in the U.S. and Mexico were all originally derived from a few hundred individuals surviving in Mexico. - The elephant seal, once near extinction after hunters slaughtered it indiscriminately in the last century, has now become such a prolific breeder that it is colonizing the beaches of California. The elephant seal (genus Mirounga) is the world's largest seal.There are two species of elephant seals, named according to the hemisphere in which they are found. Elephant seals in Antarctica are a fantastic sight to behold on any trip to Antarctica and one of the region’s most unique and recognisable species. 0 comments. Regarding appearance, they are characterized by having brown to gray coloration with numerous … Male seals can weigh up to 4.5 tons. Distinguished by their long trunks and huge bodies, elephants are considered to be the largest known living land animal in the world. Biology, 21.06.2019 23:00. Elephants need extensive land areas to survive and meet their ecological needs, which includes food, water, and space. Northern Elephant Seal Photo. Is The Southern Elephant Seal Endangered? They are critically endangered according to IUCN. This means that both species of elephant seals are neither threatened nor endangered. Answers: 2 Show answers Another question on Biology. Elizabeth Michigan. Fullscreen. They are carnivores living on a diet of squid , fish , rays , penguins , and some small species of sharks . The female elephant seals and the male elephant seals have different hunting routines. Their blubber was rendered to oil, which was used in paint, soap and candles. Settings. hide. Males of both species attain a length of approximately 6.5 metres (21 feet) and a weight of about 3,530 kg (7,780 pounds) and are much larger than the females, which grow to 3.5 metres and weigh 900 kg. 0:00. Elephant evolution. The females hunt in an open ocean while the male elephant seals search for food on An Antarctic cruise is an icy safari, with many different species of animals to observe. The southern elephant seal is the largest species of seal. Are Elephants Endangered? Its population began to steadily increase in the early 1900s. It was sold and processed into high-quality lamp and machine oil. Both northern and southern elephant seals are considered 'threatened,' meaning they could become endangered in the future. 100% Upvoted. As a result, as they lose habitat, they often come into conflict with people in competition for resources. Adult males range from about 4.5 m to 5.8 m in length, and weigh from about 1,500 up to as much as 3,700 kg. The leopard seal is earless, about 10 to 12 feet long (females slightly larger than males), weighs between 800 and 1000 pounds, and always seems to be smiling because the edges of its mouth curl upward. share. CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora . For much of the year, elephant seals exist in far offshore waters, and commonly swim to depths of more than 5,000 feet below the ocean's surface (Marine Mammal Center 2013). The elephant seals began to recover and within a few years, individuals spread north onto beaches of the United States. Adult males typically reach 4.5 m and a maximum of 5.8 m in length, and weigh 1,500–3,000 kg, with a maximum weight of about 4,000 kg. Visit one of the rookeries during the winter birthing and breeding season for an amazing nature experience. Northern elephant seals were once thought to be extinct due to commercial sealing in the 1800s. Northern elephant seals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and are not considered endangered or threatened. Elephant seals are not endangered today, but like fur seals, they were once the target of sealers. Elephant seals come ashore twice a year for breeding and molting, ... "My class adopts an endangered animal every year. View Entire Discussion (0 Comments) Blubber had also been used by indigenous people such as the Inuit to light stone oil lamps called quilliqs.. By the turn of the century, the scarcity of elephant seals and the arrival of alternative fuels such as petroleum-based products made blubber-based oils obsolete. Log in or sign up to leave a comment Log In Sign Up. Monk seals are some of the world’s rarest and most endangered marine mammals. Currently, NOAA lists 22 coral species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Along with their extinct relative, the mammoths, elephants are from the family of herbivorous mammals known as the Elephantidae.. The students love it!" no comments yet. The males have an inflatable proboscis, which gives the name 'elephant seal', though the proboscis is only fully developed in adult males. As a result, the population of northern elephant seals is … report. To find food, these mammals migrate and often spend months at sea, diving at great depths. To save them, the Mexican government gave protected status to northern elephant seals in 1922. Sort by. The Southern Elephant Seal is the largest pinniped species. “Growing up in the Midwest, when I thought of national parks, I thought of bison and bears, not coral reefs and elephant seals,” said Eva DiDonato, chief of ocean and coastal resources programs at the NPS. Mexico officially protected the species in 1922, with the United States following a few years later. 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