A 28-year-old marine biologist has been killed by Antarctica's most dangerous predator, a leopard seal, while on a snorkelling mission at a British research base. ", And with more people going to Antarctica each year, he believes even greater care is needed. Kirsty was a vibrant, dynamic individual, committed to her science and with a promising scientific career ahead of her.". Play it now. The leopard seal is a dominant predator in its environment and is rarely preyed upon by other animals with the exception of human hunters, the occasional desperate shark or killer whale. The seal looks like an aquatic ballerina. By Jason Perry . Although they are formidable hunters, leopard seals are solitary creatures and it is virtually unknown for them to attack humans. Leopard seal feeding behavior is most easily seen when preying on penguins. She was dragged underwater, and autopsies showed multiple head wounds. Der Seeleopard (Hydrurga leptonyx) ist eine in südpolaren Gewässern verbreitete Robbe. While attacks of humans are rare, cases of aggression, stalking, and fatalities have been documented. It can be a dangerous endeavor to try to study these creatures, and … GoPro Leopard Seal makes a hug with a Kayak. Man-eating leopards have earned a reputation as being particularly bold and difficult to track. The captured bird is thrashed about on the water until its skin peels away. In addition to the BAS's own investigation, the coroner for the British Antarctic Territory will carry out an inquest into Kirsty's death. National Geographic asked renowned wildlife photographer Paul Nicklen to photograph leopard seals, the most vicious species of seals on the planet. Although they are formidable hunters, leopard seals are solitary creatures and it is virtually unknown for them to attack humans. But the British Antarctic Survey have been very good and we don't in any way blame them. Although there is at least one instance of a leopard seal killing a human, they actually tend to subvert this trope when meeting humans. The varied diet of these seals is reflected in their unusual tooth structure. Image Credits: iStock . The BAS has now launched a full investigation into the incident. They are definitely one of those animals best viewed from afar. Kirsty is the first person we know of to have been killed by a leopard seal. In 1985, Scottish explorer Gareth Wood was nearly dragged into the water by a leopard seal that seized his leg. By Damian Carrington The British Antarctic Survey has launched an investigation following a fatal attack on a marine scientist by a leopard seal. In a recent diary entry, published on the BAS website, she wrote movingly of her love for the Antarctic. "Our scientists have been diving and snorkeling in Antarctica for over 30 years and we've never experienced anything like this.". Sitting right at the top of the Antarctic food chain this seal is one of the biggest seals in the southern oceans. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. All rights reserved. Tuesday's incident is believed to be the first fatal attack by a seal since the Scott Expedition of 1912. 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. Remarkable pictures show the moment a 770lb predator hunts down a 13lb gentoo penguin in the sea off Antarctica. He said, "Leopard seals have been known to stalk people and it's possible an animal could attack a person while knowing exactly what it's attacking.". Taronga Zoo's Leopard Seal Serenaded by a Saxophone. You are most welcome to register for an account, which allows you to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more. 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