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The northern elephant seal population was estimated to be 171,000 in 2005. [1] Beginning in the 18th century, northern elephant seals were hunted extensively, almost to extinction by the end of the 19th century, being prized for oil made from their blubber, and the population may have fallen as low as only 20-40 individuals. [1]
Northern elephant seal bulls reach a length of 4.3 to 4.8 m (14 to 16 ft) and the heaviest weigh about 2,500 kg (5,500 lb). [15] [16] The northern and southern elephant seal can be distinguished by various external features. On average, the southern elephant seal tends to be larger than the northern species. [12]
Pinnipeds range in size from the 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) and 50 kg (110 lb) Baikal seal to the 6 m (20 ft) and 3,700 kg (8,200 lb) male southern elephant seal, which is also the largest member of Carnivora. [1]
The less common northern fur seal and northern elephant seal are primarily seasonal visitors; fur seals live most of their non-breeding lives out at sea, and usually only enter the Salish region as strays, while elephant seals come up during the summer months primarily, but immature individuals can be seen in the Sound at any time. [29]
Cal Poly researchers tag 10 seal pups to examine migration habits. Elephant seals are migratory, with the adults swimming north along the coastline as far as Alaska and out into the northern ...
The postweaning fast ranges from two weeks in the hooded seal to 9–12 weeks in the northern elephant seal. [19] The physiological and behavioral adaptations that allow phocid pups to endure these remarkable fasts, which are among the longest for any mammal, remain an area of active study and research.
[36] [37] After commercial hunting ended, some species, such as the gray whale and northern elephant seal, [38] [39] have rebounded in numbers, however the northern elephant seal has a genetic bottleneck; [39] conversely, other species, such as the North Atlantic right whale, are critically endangered. [40]
Phocids such as elephant seals, grey seals and hooded seals have a lactation period that lasts days or weeks, during which they fast and nurse their pups on land or ice. The milk of these species consists of up to 60% fat, allowing the young to grow quickly. Each day until they are weaned, northern elephant seal pups gain 4 kg (9 lb).