Elephant Seal (Northern)

About the Elephant Seal (Northern)

Males weigh up to 2,300 kg and have a massive trunk-like nose. They were hunted to near extinction - by 1892 only 20-100 individuals survived. All 200,000+ northern elephant seals today are descended from those few survivors, making them an extreme genetic bottleneck. Males fast for 3 months during breeding season while fighting rivals. Their battles can be bloody and fatal. They can dive to 1,700 meters and hold their breath for 100 minutes. They spend 80% of their lives at sea. Their trunk amplifies deep bellowing roars during mating season.