Ukrainian polar explorers from the Akademik Vernadsky station were able to film a leopard seal during the trip
Leopard seal went hunting for penguins
The animal, which seems to be posing for people, is one of the representatives of the seal family, found in the area of the Ukrainian station.
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Seeing the researchers with cameras, he even posed for them a little and showed his signature smile, the polar explorers assured on Facebook.
Although the leopard may seem pretty cute on the outside, you should not trust his “smile”: this animal is one of the main predators of the Antarctic, scientists warn.
Unlike Weddell seals or craboids, he It feeds not only on krill or fish, but also on penguins and other seals. And the name was received, in addition to the method of nutrition, because of the characteristic spots on the body.
The length of the leopard is 3-4 meters, and the weight is 300-400 kg. Due to the shape of the body and elongated forelimbs, it swims quickly in water, reaching speeds of up to 40 km per hour.
Since the end of the Antarctic summer, leopards can be increasingly seen near the station. The reason is simple: until autumn, the neighborhood of Vernadsky become a kindergarten for subantarctic penguins.
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And it is them that the leopard seal awaits off the coast, since it is much easier to catch an inexperienced chick, than an adult animal.
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Source: Segodnya
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