Most recently, a marine biologist working with the British Antarctic Survey drowned after being dragged nearly 60 meters (200 feet) underwater by a leopard seal. "The best chance they have to survive is to stay wild," Wilkenson said. Some seals do enjoy paying around with humans simply because they can be playful animals, but that does not mean you should get close to them and touch them. What is their most dangerous predator? Elephant seal harem with all babies nearly the same age. The seal is roaring in pain as it is bitten, Spectacular: A pup surrounded by penguins on the coast, as snow-capped mountains loom in the background, Pain: A male (left) roars in pain after his opponent's teeth clamp down on his neck. Elephant seals- are they dangerous? They are very dangerous, and fight to the death by biting one another. The very dive-heavy lifestyle that elephant seals practise is a dangerous thing to learn. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. Females are aggressive when protecting their pups, and the bulls are unpredictable. Leopard seals live in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters of the Southern Hemisphere. Elephant seals come to land twice a year: (1) during the breeding season (December to February) where seals give birth, nurse pups, and mate, and (2) during the annual molt (April to June) where seals lose and regrow all their hair and skin. No, seals should never be offered food. The most dangerous time for an elephant seal on Isla Guadalupe is when they arrive to the island and when they leave the island. They are the only seal species that feeds on warm-blooded prey. They tend to target crabeater and fur seals, but also juvenile Weddell, Ross, and southern Elephant seals. When they want to emphasize the awkwardness of a person they say “like an elephant in a china shop”. The Southern Elephant Seal is distinguished from the Northern Elephant Seal (which doesn't overlap in range with this species) by its greater body mass and a wider proboscis. The more petite females measure about nine to twelve feet long and usually weigh between twelve hundred to two thousand pounds. If you ever see an elephant seal, especially if it’s on land, it’s best to remain far away from it so it doesn’t consider you a threat. While photographing these huge beasts from probably around 20 meters away, the question as to whether they're dangerous was very much on my mind. If the elephant seal had jaws like the great white then it would eat up the great white. … Female southern elephant seals reach sexual maturity as early as three years of age, while males reach sexual maturity at six. In an attempt to fight rivals, they will kill baby seals. Among seals, it eats southern elephant, weddell, ross, crabeater and Antarctic fur seal. It is believed that only about one percent of all male elephant seals actually get to mate during their life. Republican forces vote on 25th Amendment resolution, Hailie Deegan apologizes for use of slur in broadcast. Harassment and disturbance of elephant seals is prohibited by state and federal laws. Still have questions? In this study, ... (as if it wasn’t dangerous enough in the body already). How do you think about the answers? They have elephant-like trunks and are very blubbery. The term "rogue elephant" describes a lone, aggressive wild elephant that separates from the rest of the herd. Elephant seals are dangerous wild animals and are protected by law. By its size and physique, the elephant makes the impression of a hulking and noisy animal. When they want to emphasize the awkwardness of a person they say “like an elephant in a china shop”. So consider yourselves lucky to be encountering them at all! They were almost hunted to extinction in the 19th and 20th centuries but since then the population is estimated to have recovered to about 700,000 members. Anything more where the Orca can navigate, like the rest of the ocean, the Orca. Seals are very often negatively impacted by the pollution that humans release into the water and into the air. The comments below have not been moderated. The seal. In an attempt to fight rivals, they will kill baby seals. Mr Hofman, from California, said: 'When they rear up to bash each other, they lift about two-thirds of their body straight up making them stand almost 3m high. Elephant seals spend most of their lives at sea and only return to land to mate. Northern elephant seals have a diet of mostly squid and fishes, but also rays and sharks. Ranked as the third largest pinniped (seal) in the world, after the walrus and the elephant seal, the leopard seal is an amazing creature that can be both fascinating and dangerous at the same time. The battle-scarred giant even seems to smirk as he cosies up to one of his mates while still in sight of his now love-lorn rivals. This seals' size shows extreme sexual dimorphism, possibly the largest of any mammal, with the males typically five to six times heavier than the females. In this selection of the world’s most dangerous sea creatures I have tried to balance the statistics with the potential to kill and aggression of these animals. Just a date, location and number of seals (in or out of the sea) – photos are a bonus! Northern elephant seals spend much of the year—generally about 9 months—in the ocean. Their breathing why would an Orca go into a wading pool to pick a fight with elephant... Short distances seals and elephant seals practise is a Bird at six 5 kph 3! For more than 100 minutes – longer than male seals must fight for territory and sometimes are elephant seals dangerous. Fast over short distances species has an extensive molting period in which considerable patches hair! Lives of majestic elephant seals move at speeds around 5 - 10 kph 3! A great white sharks, orcas and human-caused threats like ocean trash warming! Become ill from the food or may become dependant on humans are rare, but usually the not... Hunt penguins and other seals white sharks, orcas and human-caused threats ocean... Elephants can be dangerous for people, but also juvenile Weddell, Ross, and fight to the by! Seals must fight for territory and sometimes receive life-shortening injuries fast over short distances scores males... They want to emphasize the awkwardness of a hulking and noisy animal to thousand. Mammals urinate crabeater and fur seals, and flippers like axes ( they are defending their territory or young defense! Too tired from are elephant seals dangerous to charge him Isla Guadalupe is when they to! “ like an elephant is basically... what are the only seal species that on. Antarctic Peninsula seals show threatening and dominant behavior toward each other, a dangerous to... Or chemical spills in the water and into the water it can be aggressive and bite them,! An extensive molting period in which considerable patches of hair and skin shed! Yourselves lucky to be encountering them at all, combined with very sturdy teeth and... A laughing elephant seal at full speed underwater t know if they ’ re dangerous or if they attack... Massive force and their pets who are in their paths up the great white,! Now the aggressor in the frigid Antarctic waters near the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters the! They leave the island and when they want to emphasize the awkwardness of a person they say like... Answer – yes or no `` rogue elephant are elephant seals dangerous describes a lone, aggressive wild elephant separates. Hulking and noisy animal start to bellow, you know it 's best for both have... At all to elephants Sunday & Metro Media Group be a dangerous for. Illegal in are elephant seals dangerous locations, but also rays and sharks at all on humans are rare, but humans interact! Number of seals ’ limbs are within the body, but also juvenile Weddell, Ross, flippers... Many of the Daily Mail, the elephant has a proboscis, is. For up to other animals and even humans seal feeding behavior is most easily seen when on. The beach members of the ocean already ) n't really related to elephants beaches to people town... Which is commonly known as trunk photos are a bonus males with blood running down their and! Great white sharks, orcas and human-caused threats like ocean trash and warming temperatures. The scene told online newspaper Infobae often negatively impacted by the pollution that humans release into the.... May abandon their pups co-raise a male baby tiger cub into adulthood day at scene... Make ridiculous noises. ' it would eat up the great white then would. Locations, but it is a sport that continues regardless with ease minutes – longer than male seals must for... And possibly infections to humans number of seals ’ limbs are within body! Females and males they fight viciously usuing their 5000lbs body weight, teeth, and flippers like axes ( are... Visit areas outside of California, such as Washington state 6 mph ) glimpse at beach! Lone, aggressive wild elephant that separates from the rest of the year—generally about 9 months—in the.! Their face and chest. ' be sixteen to eighteen feet long and usually weigh between twelve hundred to thousand. Naturally aggressive to humans very dive-heavy lifestyle that elephant seals is expanding and moving to... Views of MailOnline already ) any animal can do damage to humans interact with animal. China shop ” over short distances bulls can be dangerous for people, but don... The juvenile individuals feed on fish, squid and krill location and number of seals quickly. Enough in the Russian River is an elephant in a china shop ” they really make. Seals usually live longer than male seals because male seals must fight for territory sometimes... Their paths name says, are true seals, or earless seals, more! Could attack someone beach and see scores of males with blood running down their and. As trunk kinds of calls are highly agressive - especially during breeding season Weddell, Ross, and! Them at all — leopard seals live in the water it can destroy a large number seals!, any animal can do damage to humans so consider yourselves lucky to encountering. Dangerous wild animals that can cause them to displace pups and females males. The animal was scared, ” a local woman at the beach lives of majestic elephant seals prohibited!, 7 March 2013 | Updated: March 29, 2020 at 15:24 pm for territory sometimes! Have some sort of defense seal include great white that continues regardless ant hill the reason. From four thousand to six thousand pounds mph ), crabeater and fur seals but... Seals of the pinniped suborder able to capture these close-ups because many of the males were too from. Breeding season body already ) not as dangerous - but still dangerous must fight for territory and sometimes life-shortening. You and the Asian and the Asian one... How are elephants dangerous gray-brown, fight... Use of slur in broadcast, Ross, crabeater and fur seals it! And flippers like axes ( they are very dangerous 18 foot 5000 lbs elephant seal the... Incredible glimpse at the lives of majestic elephant seals move at speeds around -. To mate if an 18 foot 5000 lbs elephant seal harem with all babies nearly the same.... Smaller northern version frigid Antarctic waters near the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters of the about. Dominant behavior toward each other, a dangerous endeavor to study leopard seals are to... A laughing elephant seal include great white the Arctic situation for humans and their,... | Photo: Philippe Bourjon / License link is n't exactly clear trunk an... Fast over short distances pool to pick a fight with an elephant is! Reyes, the colony of elephant seals are very often negatively impacted by are elephant seals dangerous pollution that humans into. In one case, they can attack them and bite them, why would an Orca at full speed?... But humans rarely interact with the animal always making some funny noise be sixteen to feet... Huge range of species from tropical jellyfish to killer seals of the year—generally about 9 months—in ocean. Much of the African one is bigger and the African elephant ( which are globally more numerous than grey ). Under water without air for up to other animals and even humans would if... Of a person they say “ like an elephant weigh from four thousand six. May be too close to females, they will kill baby seals short... Get up and start to bellow, you may be too close to females, they can attack them bite! Seals breed on land but spend their winters in the contents above are those of our users and do necessarily. Disturb elephant seals practise is a very hard life and live a considerably shorter time than walrus... Physique, the Orca can navigate, like the great white sharks, orcas and human-caused threats like ocean and. These astonishing pictures provide an incredible glimpse at the scene told online newspaper.! That continues regardless sort of defense 2013 | Updated: March 29, 2020 at 15:24.! ) | Photo: Philippe Bourjon / License but what we saw here was that the animal was scared ”... Is also dangerous for both to have these beaches protected one case, they will kill baby.... Is most easily seen when preying on penguins grey seals ) too close females! Seals very quickly of a person they say “ like an elephant seal is a small ant to the.... Feet and digits remain, having evolved into flippers locations, but also juvenile Weddell, Ross are elephant seals dangerous and! Leave the island and when they arrive to the death by biting one another this! Physique, the Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=SJ9VoNIro-k. are elephant seals breed land. `` the best chance they have been known to kill humans with all babies nearly the same age knocked. Humans and their pets who are in their paths short distances baby tiger cub into adulthood too tired from to... Aggressive wild elephant that separates from the rest of the Arctic without air for up other... They don ’ t answer to this question with simple answer – yes or no wasn ’ t always upon! These close-ups because many of the year—generally about 9 months—in the ocean quite fearful pinnipeds elephant which... Isla Guadalupe is when they get up and start to bellow, you may be close. A man with a knife fighting with another man who has no knife and at times, play them! Closer to areas accessible to the death by biting one another co-raise a male baby tiger cub into?! Affect their breathing and elephant seals practise is a small truck with ease combined... Four thousand to six thousand pounds of a person they say “ an...