Are elephant seals intelligent?

Like most marine mammals, the elephant seal is extremely intelligent. The babies and juveniles can be very curious towards humans. Most adults don't take much interest in humans, but it's wise to avoid adult males and stay away from protective mothers.

What are 3 interesting facts about elephant seals?

Male elephant seals weigh as much as a small truck or cargo van. Elephant seals spend up to 80% of their lives in the ocean. They can hold their breath for more than 100 minutes – longer than any other non-cetacean mammal. They can cover 60 miles a day when they head out to sea.

What are 5 interesting facts about elephant seals?

Can a human outrun an elephant seal?

Elephant seals spend about 20 percent of their lives on land and about 80 percent of their time in the ocean. Although they are aquatic animals, seals on sand can outrun humans. In the sea, they can swim at a speed of 5 to 10 km/hr.

Are elephant seals gentle?

Though massive, they are also pretty gentle. Really, not much messes with an elephant seal. They go about their business harmlessly, gently, but make no mistake: they do what they want.

Just How BIG are Elephant Seals? | Super Giant Animals | BBC Earth

Are elephant seals aggressive?

Elephant seals may have Jabba-the-Hut-like bodies, but they are deceptively speedy on land. Plus Ellison — like other males of the species — has a naturally aggressive nature. Elephant seals don't eat other seals, Heinrich explained, but they aren't exactly on friendly terms.

Why are elephant seals so aggressive?

Only the biggest and fiercest bull seals get to sire offspring. So natural selection has gradually made the bulls extremely aggressive and given them tools to scare other bulls: elephant-like snouts, the ability to trumpet, and body weights three to seven times that of the cows.

Why can't you pet elephant seals?

They will bite – and serious infections can be transmitted to you or your pet. Seals are mammals, as are we. They are susceptible to and can pass on nasty viruses such as herpes. Zoonosis — infectious diseases of animals that can naturally be transmitted to humans — is the biggest threat.

What can beat an elephant seal?

Large southern elephant seals have few predators, but killer whales, leopard seals, and some large sharks are known to feed on this species. Historically, southern elephant seals were hunted to very low numbers because of the value and volume of their blubber, which was rendered into oil.

Would an elephant protect a human?

Yet, in a lesson to us all, elephants are well known to be intuitive and proactive when humans are in distress. They have caught on camera multiple times rescuing, protecting, or helping people.

Do elephant seals sleep?

Elephant seals sleep manage to sleep underwater, at depths of around 200 meters!

What is the lifespan of an elephant seal?

There is a notable difference in lifespan between males and females. Females generally live for about 19 years, while males only live for about 13 years. Females come ashore and within a few days give birth to a pup conceived in the previous breeding season.

Are elephant seals social?

Social Structure:

During the breeding season, elephant seals gather in large groups, called colonies. They tend to remain loyal to their colony, returning to their established breeding area each year. In their breeding area, males collect a harem of 40 to 50 females. Males battle to define and defend their territory.

Are elephant seals cute?

Elephant seal pups are some of the CUTEST animals we encounter, they look like little sausage logs with big doe eyes and whiskers. But as the males mature, they grow incredible bulbous noses that are almost trunk-like (hence their namesake).

Why do elephant seals bark?

Their vocalizations are critical, since territorial disputes and stormy surf conditions can separate a mother and its pup and they may only find each other again by recognizing each other's call. These files are much higher quality (and larger) elephant seal vocalizations.

Do elephant seals fast?

Adult male elephant seals do not eat for up to 3 months while they are on land trying to establish and maintain dominance over other males. If they were to leave their harem, other males might mate with the females. Female elephant seals fast for a month while they give birth, nurse their pups, and mate.

Can a human outrun a seal?

They can outrun a human on slippery rocks and can climb nearly vertical cliffs. Northern fur seals haul out on San Miguel in the Channel Islands, California.

Are elephant seals loud?

Elephant seals are extremely vocal on and close to land whereas their vocal communications under water seem to be limited to a few grunts and clicking sounds.

Do seals like to cuddle?

So it turns out seals are avid (and somewhat aggressive) cuddle monsters. As shown by a San Diego seal in particular, seals don't seem to discriminate with whom they choose for snuggle partners.

What to do if a seal approaches you?

Always let seals make the first move – let them approach you. Sit back, wait quietly and observe. Aim to stay calm and move slowly to avoid spooking the seals and provoking a startled response. Be confident that seals are usually gentle creatures unless they feel threatened.

Are seals intelligent?

Seals. Wild seals are very intelligent, curious and have good coordination, learning tricks easily in captivity.

Do orcas eat elephant seals?

Elephant seals only have two predators. White sharks and orcas are the only known animals to prey on the large elephant seals, according to the National Park Service.

How big is an elephant seal compared to a human?

Or to put it another way, the males weigh the same as 44 average-sized humans. Females are three to four times smaller than the males, but still no slouches in the size department, weighing as much as 1,600 lb. or 725 kg (12 humans) and just over nine feet (2.7 metres) in length!

How deep can elephant seals go?

Elephant seals are remarkable divers, spending up to 1.5 hours underwater and reaching depths of more than 1700 meters in their search for food.