Photographs by Norbert Wu
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More leopard seals: leopard seals can have the playful demeanor of a very large Labrador retriever but always the fearsome possibility of a large pit bull. We had several approach our inflatable Zodiac vessel. They seem particularly drawn to the inflatable pontoons of such a boat, constantly biting the pontoons. When a large one approaches, it can create a sizeable wake behind it. These are the apex predators on this part of the world, with only orcas above them. A leopard seal killed a researcher at a British sub-antarctic research station. She died from drawning, and her depth gauge showed that the leopard seal dragged her down to 240 feet. |
