Long before I’d ever travelled to Antarctica I’d heard about Leopard Seals (Hydrurga leptonyx). Twelve feet long, reptilian, and vicious, I’d read about them attacking the zodiac boats of tourists, and about one attacking a Canadian Polar Explorer through the ice, just failing in it’s effort to pull him through the hole and underwater. I was thrilled with the prospect of seeing this large predator, that could kill thirty penquins a day – shaking them out of their skins, up close.
The best encounter we had was with one large Leopard Seal lounging on a small bergy bit a little ways off a Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) colony. As we cruised by I waited breathlessly for it to slide off the ice and try and take a bite out of our pontoon, but instead she lifted her head, looked at us as we went by, and put her head back down, resuming her nap. Later as we cruised through a narrow passage we watched at a distance as one shook a penguin, preparing it for its lunch.
During the return trip we watched a National Geographic Film on South Georgia, and incredible underwater footage of a Leopard Seal playing with a penguin, much the same as a cat would with a mouse. The last part of the series was a "the making of" the film, and the cinematographer described how the seal presented him with a dead penguin, again much like a cat gives it’s human gifts of mice and birds.
I’m lucky to include Paul Nicklen (a great photographer, who happens to photograph for National Geographic) amongst my friends. This summer, sitting around the dining room table catching up, he told me that he’d been down in Antarctica for the austral summer, photographing Leopard Seal for an upcoming feature in National Geographic Magazine. I mentioned the story from the film and he described his amazing experience.
He found the Leopard Seal to be an incredible animal, and a large female took to him right from the start. She’d present him with gifts of penguins (several over the course of a shoot, they’d be bobbing all around him in the water), chasing away another female who dared compete for his attention, and even following him back to the boat at the end of the day, sleeping outside his cabin. His was an incredible experience.
Last night while checking out some of the animals of Pete’s Pond I came across this very interesting Flash presentation by Paul on the Leopard Seals. Well worth checking out, for Paul’s incredible photography, and for this amazing glimpse into the world of Leopard Seals.
Comments
11 responses
That was a cool presentation!
Yes, great link Clare, thanks.
Wow! Thanks for pointing this out, Clare.
Ah, Antarctica! I had the same impression of the leopard seal that you describe you started out with–must have read some of the same stuff. Thanks for setting me straight. While I have a certain distant fondness for animals that have the audacity to prey on human beings, the portrait you paint is better…
Being a National Geographic photographer has to be one of the great jobs in the world. There are some great photos there. Thanks for the link…
Hi Adam, it sure is cool. And you’re welcome Duncan and Anita.
I have that same fondness Pamela. Of course it isn’t all sweetness and light, the Leopard Seal like many top predators is a complex animal and can be dangerous. One killed a young woman researcher snorkling in Antarctica a few years back, dragging her underwater and her body was never found. I know that from my conversations with Paul though it was one of the highlights of his life.
Most people think that Craig, but I also know that they put up with some pretty crazy conditions to do their assignments. Sixty days at the Floe edge is a long time, and I know that Paul is away from his family for long long periods of time. But even then I don’t think most of them would trade it for the world.
Wow, amazing photos.
Any news yet on when his Narwhal and ice floe stuff from this summer is coming out?
Oh, I know that people think it’s a glamorous job, but that in reality it is extremely hard work, under stressful conditions. I read somewhere once, and I don’t know it’s true, that for every photo that runs in the magazine the photographer had to take dozens of rolls of film (back in the days of film). I imagine with the advent of digital, the number of pics haven’t diminished.
But they get to go to amazing places and take photos that blow people’s minds. It’s a pretty nice job…
Hi Nancy,
I’m not sure when the Narwhal feature is coming out, probably in about six months time. I’ll be keeping an eye out and will post something when I know.
Yeah, it would be a pretty cool job all in all Craig. And I know that they shoot an incredible amount of digital pictures also. Looking at some that I thought would be amazing he’d go “that shot would never make the magazine”. I’m thinking, can I have it then?
I read his NG piece last night!
I found your blog through Google, searching “Nunavut blogs.” I once had a customer from Nunavut order from my baby gift website. I did a little research when figuring out how to ship to her, and I’ve been fascinated ever since.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for the visit. I haven’t seen Paul’s piece yet. My sister is going to mail me up a copy. This is indeed, a fascinating place.