The Elephant Seal
Another marine animal that undergoes a major migration is the Elephant Seal. These marine animals dive to incredibly deep deaths to search for prey. They manage to navigate the dark, deep parts of the Southern Ocean, usually up to 6,000 feet (1,800 meters). They’ll spend an extended period out at sea before they return to their breeding colonies. When they migrate, they go between their foraging grounds and breeding grounds. This allows them to hunt for prey in the deep ocean, where they use increased oxygen storage to keep them alive.
Elephant seals take more risks early on in the migration when they have less body fat. According to author, Roxanne Beltran, “Theory predicts that fat animals take fewer risks, but it’s very difficult to measure body condition continuously in wild animals. Our results show that fat seals prioritize safety, and skinny seals prioritize feeding.” They’re the only mammal known to make two migrations every year. They’ll return to the same beaches every year during the breeding season (Monterey Bay Aquarium).