Why identifying that animal is a good thing
Time to get a little bit nerdy with everyone for a little bit and talk about how to identify one seal from another when you are exploring in the remotely beautiful region that is the Antarctic Peninsula. It is quite important to identify these species sooner rather than later, as you do need to behave and operate your zodiac vessel differently depending on which species you have encountered.
For example, a leopard seal is a fearsome apex predator that feeds on krill, penguins and other species of baby seals if it has the chance to do so. As a result of their fearless personality they are not concerned or intimidated by humans or vessels like other seal species can be. The key physical feature when identifying a beautiful leopard seal is a a huge long, lanky looking body with a massive square, reptilian head. Typically too, they will be on their own lying on a small ice berg or ice flow resting. If you do see one in the water you will probably find out, as they have a habit of swimming over to small vessels to investigate what you are in their area. When that happens. IT. IS. AWESOME!
A leopard seal lifting his head to investigate his surroundings
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A crab eater seal is a tad different and some people first assume it is a small leopard seal when they spot it from a distance away. However, they are remarkably different in size and other key physiological differences, not to mention that you can find over 5 individual crab eater seals lying on the an ice floe in a more social manner. The reason you approach these two different species different is due to the crab eater's natural tendency to be highly intimidated by any small vessel coming anywhere near them. Hence, a very very slow and quiet approach is ideal to help guarantee the potential for a great close interaction.
With a leopard seal, a slow cautious approach is always highly recommended in order not unnecessary disturb this predator. However, most of the time if its in the water it will approach you and if its on the ice floe it may lift its head, stare at you for a bit and maybe yawn before laying back down without a care in the world. gotta love those leopard seals
A weary crab eater seal staring at my zodiac as we watched him from a distance
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Thats so amazing that you get to see parts of the world that most of us only dream of ever seeing in person 🌺 thank u for sharing. Both are beautiful seals . I love the Hawaiian monk seal they are very endangered oy about 2200 left in the world .