Do elephant seals attack humans?

They dive to an average of 1,300 to 2,100 feet and sometimes to 3,000 feet, nearly twice as deep as any other seal species. The pressure, 90 times greater than at the surface, would kill humans.

How many humans have been killed by leopard seals?

Although rare, there are a few records of adult leopard seals attacking humans. There has also been one fatality, when a researcher was snorkelling in Antarctic waters and was killed by a leopard seal.

Are elephant seals violent?

Males battle each other for mating dominance. Some encounters end with roaring and aggressive posturing, but many others turn into violent and bloody battles. Sea elephants, as these seals are sometimes called, give birth in late winter to a single pup and nurse it for approximately a month.

Is it OK to pet an elephant seal?

Seals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is against the law to touch, feed or otherwise harass seals. Harassment occurs whenever your behavior changes their behavior. The rule is to keep at least 50 yards, four car lengths, away — to give them their space.

Are there any elephant seals left in the world?

The two species, the northern elephant seal ( M. angustirostris) and the southern elephant seal ( M. leonina ), were both hunted to the brink of extinction by the end of the 19th century, but their numbers have since recovered.

How tall is the deepest dive of an elephant seal?

Elephant seals dive to 1,550 m (5,090 ft) beneath the ocean’s surface (the deepest recorded dive of an elephant seal is 2,388 m (7,835 ft) by a southern elephant seal, while the record for the northern elephant seal is 1,735 m (5,692 ft)).

Why does an elephant seal have blubber on its body?

Their body is covered in blubber, which helps them keep warm and reduce drag while they are swimming. The shape of their body also helps them maneuver well in the water, but limits their movement on land. Also, elephant seals have the ability to fast for long periods of time while breeding or molting.

Why do elephant seals spend most of their time underwater?

In addition, the hind flipper of elephant seals have a lot of surface area, which helps propel them in the water. Elephant seals spend the majority of their time (90%) underwater in search of food, and can cover 60 miles a day when they head out to sea.