The apex predator of the south, the Leopard Seal

Leopard seals are considered to be the most ferocious seals in the Antarctic. They can be found all around the pack ice in summer. In winter they tend to stay in de northerly part of the antarctic. Adult male leopard seals can reach a length of about 3 meters and can weigh up to 300 kg. Females are a bit larger.

By only looking at the animal you will start fearing them. Leopard Seals have a muscular, almost reptilian head. They have a strong neck and a big mouth with large and sharp teeth. The body of the Leopard seal is dark gray above and light grey below.
Their throats are almost white with typical black spots. These spots have given the seal it’s name.

Their teeth are impressive; large and obviously very suitable for cutting and tearing the flesh of it’s prey. Their main meal is formed by penguins. You can find the Leopard seal waiting on a piece of ice or on a rock for the first penguin to enter the water.
He will atack it’s prey very quickly; killing it in an instant moment. Sometimes you will find a Leopard seal playing with it’s prey. Not hungry anymore it’s fun to play with.

The bodies of the Leopard seals are very well adapted to life in the sea. Their body is extremely well streamlined. With their strong flippers they can reach a speed up to 35 km per hour. And this is a bit faster than the fastest penguin.

When no penguins are available Leopard seals are also be found hunting fish, squids, krill and sometimes even other seals. Also many “horror”stories about Leopard Seals attacking humans go around. Although some attacks on humans have been documented most of the stories must be classified as horror.

Little is known about their breeding behavior. For Scientists and biologists it is difficult to follow the Leopard seals to their breeding grounds on the shifting pack ice. The Leopard seal lives a solitary life. Only for breeding they are seen in pairs or small groups.
Not too much is known about their lifespan but they are known to have reached an age of 26 years.
In antarctic seas there are not much preditors for the Leopard Seal. Only the Killer whale is a known preditor for the Leopard seal.

Everyone on the ship said I was crazy when I told them my goal was to
shoot pictures of a Leopard Seal attacking a penguin. All divers had heard at least one horror story about attacks of the seal. So they thought it would not be possible coming this close.

We found one during a dive around an iceberg. But visibility was bad and the animal
was swimming too deep to take a good picture.
During one of the last dives we discovered a seal that was feeding. It was catching every penguin it could get. I entered the water and swam to the animal. It was big; much bigger than I expected, almost three meters. I had to put away my fear and tried to get close to the animal. After a while it became curious and I was able to take many portrait
pictures of the animal. But still no penguin.

After 20 minutes the Seal caught an penguin; I was too late. But then I knew this was my day. At that time the animal was becoming more aggressive, also to me. It even tried to push me away once. This resulted in the vertical shot with it's mouth wide open. (it's actually a horizontal shot because there was no place I could leave my strobes).
Then I was lucky. The Seal caught a penguin and was playing with it's catch. That gave me the chance to take the pictures I traveled to Antarctica for.
I didn't have time to wait until the seal ate it's pray. I was very cold after being the the antarctic water for 80 minutes.