Elephant seal pup vocalizations, St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia - 11-03-22

The gestation period for a female elephant seal is 9 months but they have delayed implantation, meaning babies are born after 12 months even though the pregnancy itself lasts for 9 months. Some marsupials, shrews and rodents are also capable of delayed implantation. Newborn elephant seals weigh around 110 pounds and within three months they will weigh 330 pounds! Like all kids, they grow up fast. Pups are generally born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches around the continent. They love socializing - like female whales in Antarctica, elephant seals are highly social animals and they love to get together in large groups. This is especially true during the breeding season, when they often form large gatherings that are known as harems. The harems will tend to have large numbers of females and a small number of males.