I would suspect so. The way they bite your tuna in half just before you get it in the boat also suggests a powerful munch. Not sure of attacks on humans though.
I think there is relatively little evidence of aggression from these animals, this one was pretty relaxed and probably had a belly full of fish and penguin. Still, ending up as a snack for a fellow carnivore is a great motivator during those water starts.
I think there is relatively little evidence of aggression from these animals, this one was pretty relaxed and probably had a belly full of fish and penguin. Still, ending up as a snack for a fellow carnivore is a great motivator during those water starts.
Definitely one death attributed to them. No way I'd get in the water with one.
Although attacks on humans are rare, they have occurred before. In 1985, Scottish polar explorer Gareth Wood had a lucky escape while walking across a thin ice layer.
In his written account of the encounter, he recalled, "Suddenly, the surface erupted as the massive head and shoulders of a mature leopard seal, mouth gaping in expectation, crashed through the eggshell covering. It closed its powerful jaws around my right leg, and I fell backward, shocked and helpless."
Wood was saved by his companions who repeatedly kicked the seal in the head with ice crampons until it released him.
Leopard seals have also been recorded attacking inflatable boats. United States Antarctic researchers had to fit special protective guards to prevent their boats being punctured.
Scary. Would be awesome to see one in the wild though. Very jealous.
The day the photos were taken there were about sixty people at the beach and probably about 25 kids and adults in the water. There had been about four people windsurfing but when I went out the wind died and I slogged back to shore about 600 m down wind and had to walk back up the beach. The leopard seal had parked itself about 100m away from the beach goers and while it did bark at the occasional dog walker that got to close it never seemed aggressive.
Haven't you seen 'Happy Feet'?!
