Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 01/04/2009 - 14:10
Forums
Oden Antarctic Expedition 08

Dear Mr. Peneston,

I read your latest Dec. 30 journal entry and I was amazed at those wounds that the crabeater sustained. Why do leopard seals attack crabeater seals? Have you swabbed a seal yet? Hope you are having fun!

Salil Chaudhry

Lynnwood Elementary

 

 

Tue, 01/06/2009 - 10:12

Jeff Peneston

Salil,
Check out my Jan 3 journal for photos of me swabbing a seal’s nose for viruses and bacteria.  It made the seal sneeze when I did it!  We are amazed by the wounds on the crabeater seals too and I don’t have a clear answer to your question about why.It is clear that leopard seals regularly kill and eat younger seals but the one that I photographed was an adult.  The best guess is that the leopard seals are so big, fast and powerful that they attack whatever they see and hope for a kill.  Last night I was able to get my first, close view of a leopard seal and they are huge.  There is no question that they can catch whatever they want.  I am having a blast and I am glad you are enjoying my journals.
Take care,
Jeff