As of 2018, there are no leopard seals in human care. The animal was kept at Taronga Zoo until 2014, when it became gravely ill and had to be euthanized. The last specimen in human care was a leopard seal found stranded on an Australian beach in 2007. Leopard seals have not been domesticated in any way, and are very infrequently kept in zoos and aquariums. They are also threatened by overfishing, which could potentially collapse the food chain. The leopard seal’s greatest danger is man-made threats, such as diminishing pack ice due to global climate change. Unlike other species of Antarctic seals, leopard seals were not frequently hunted for their coats. The leopard seal story begins at 10:48 in the video. It is a truly interesting experience, and you can view the TED Talk here. She attempted to feed Nicklen penguins for all five days of filming. The leopard seal brought penguins, in various stages of death, to Nicklen. While the photographer was in the water with a ten-foot long female leopard seal, the seal began to do something truly remarkable – she began to feed the photographer. Leopard seals have even been known to feed wayward photographers! Photographer Paul Nicklen investigated the leopard seal’s sinister reputation, and developed a deep contrasting opinion from his experiences. However, these marine mammals are not simply the voracious predators that they’ve been made out to be. There is even one recorded instance of a leopard seal killing a marine biologist in 2003. The leopard seal is known for its voracious appetite, and it can be a quite intimidating character due to its immense size. Leopard seals hunt krill, fish, squid, a number of penguin species, and smaller seal species. They have also been sighted as far as the southern coasts of South America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Leopard seals are most frequently found in the waters around western Antarctica, but they are known to inhabit the oceans surrounding the entire continent. They hunt along the edges of the ice, and give birth on ice floes during summer. Leopard seals live and hunt in Antarctic waters, and remain among the pack ice most of their lives. Leopard seals are one of two species of pinniped that hunt warm-blooded animals (such as penguins), and the only pinniped to hunt smaller species of seals. This clever predator hunts along the edges of ice floes, waiting for prey to enter the water. The name “leopard” not only applies to the leopard seal’s coloration, but also to their hunting ability. Skilled Predators – Leopard seals are incredibly accomplished predators.True seals, such as leopard seals, have a small hole as an entrance to the ear, and have rear flippers that point straight back, making movement on land more difficult. Eared seals, such as California sea lions, have small external ear flaps, and can rotate their rear flippers underneath them to “walk” on land. Pinnipeds are divided into “true seals” in the family Phocidae, and “eared seals” in the family Otariidae. All seals, sea lions, and walruses are considered pinnipeds, a taxonomic clade separating them from other carnivores. “True” Seals – Leopard seals are in the family Phocidae, which are considered “true” seals.When viewing the animal from below, the light underside blends in with the sunlight above. When viewing the animal from above, the dark back blends in with the dark water below. This pattern makes it difficult to see the animal in the water. Leopard seals have a coloration that can be found in some marine animals, called “countershading.” Countershading is when an aquatic animal has a lighter underside, and darker back. Underwater Camouflage – Leopard seals come with built-in camouflage, but it only works when they are underwater.This seal in particular has a number of distinct and interesting characteristics. Leopard seals are an extremely unique species of marine mammal.
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