Comments on: Leopard Seals have also been known to snap at people's feet through holes in the ice...

Leopard Seals have also been known to snap at people's feet through holes in the ice...

KokuRyu — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 12:41:35 -0800

Leopard seals, by Paul Nicklen. Leopard Seals are the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic, and are near the top of the Antarctic food chain. Paul Nicklen won first prize in the Nature Stories category of the prestigious World Press Photo contest for his photographs of Leopard Seals. The first known human fatality was in 2003 when a Leopard Seal dragged Kirsty Brown, a snorkeling biologist, underwater to her death.

By: jouke

jouke — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 12:49:45 -0800

Maybe some people would like to know that the picture of the seal ripping of a penguin's head is pretty graphic.

By: jeanmari

jeanmari — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:28:39 -0800

Didn't Shackleton's expedition record being stalked by Leopard Seals? I think it was Thomas Orde-Lees.

By: nevercalm

nevercalm — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:28:49 -0800

He's managed to get some really beautiful images in a totally hostile environment.

By: bonehead

bonehead — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:42:52 -0800

Nice post! I saw a talk recently by Ian Sterling, an expert on polar bears, who commented that leopard seals filled the polar bear niche in the Antarctic. Seeing these pictures, it's not hard to understand why (polar bears, previous discussion).

By: katillathehun

katillathehun — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:45:21 -0800

Maybe some people would like to know that the picture of the seal ripping of a penguin's head is pretty graphic. More like "relieving the penguin of its interior like a cro-magnon man enjoying a fine plate of pasta." By which I mean that I agree.

By: Rumple

Rumple — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:52:41 -0800

Here's a vivid account from a survivor of a leopard seal attack. (From a guy who I went to high school with).

By: misha

misha — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 14:57:31 -0800

Incredible photos. Made me think of Planet Earth, right up until the penguin-eviscerating one. Great post, thanks!

By: fshgrl

fshgrl — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 15:13:42 -0800

Maybe some people would like to know that the picture of the seal ripping of a penguin's head is pretty graphic. And utterly hilarious (or maybe I'm disturbed).

By: biscotti

biscotti — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 15:19:53 -0800

Fabulous post, those pictures are incredible. Leopard seals look like some kind of weird reptile/mammal hybrid.

By: jaronson

jaronson — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 18:11:31 -0800

Who knew starfish had such a mob mentality (14th pic)?

By: sebastienbailard

sebastienbailard — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 19:18:10 -0800

"Then, one of them gets eaten by a seal."

By: jouke

jouke — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 20:33:23 -0800

Getting between a 300 kg predator and his prey in an environment where humans are totally helpless seems unwise. How did the photographer survive?

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:28:08 -0800

A bit of a double. Though a bit more focused and better researched.

By: phoque

phoque — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:24:07 -0800

Us phocidae aren't always sweet and docile ... knowing our brethern are hunted to supply the Japanese penis market will do that to a species. I approve this post