Leopard Seal on Norfolk Island October 2024

This week a Juvenile Leopard Seal was sighted at Cemetery Bay at Kingston on Wednesday 2 October 2024 and was still there on Thursday but had departed from the sandy beach on Friday 4 October.

This is not a normal sight here on Norfolk Island. I know there have been approximately five recordings of seals, which include fur seals, in the last ten to twenty years. Included in those sightings was a fur seal I photographed in June 2012 at Captain Cook Reserve on the rocks below the lookout. I also heard that many years ago, there may have been a Leopard Seal seen by a Norfolk Island gentlemen, but this may not have been documented.

On Wednesday afternoon I walked through the Kingston cemetery to the bank above the beach and joined others who had gathered to watch and observe the Leopard Seal. Parks and KAVHA staff were in the area, advising people not to approach the Leopard Seal. I took photographs of the young Leopard Seal with my zoom lens. I also took short videos, and it was interesting as the tide was coming in, it keep lifting the tail flippers or moving up the sandy beach, then rolling onto its side to rest. It was interesting to note that it had a few flesh wounds, which appeared to look like “Cookie Cutter Shark” bites, which I had observed on the Beak Whale beached here on Norfolk Island in April 2016.

I was told it had something strange in its mouth, so I took a few photos zoomed into the Leopard Seal’s mouth when it was open, and the tongue looked strange and a bit misshaped. The rear of the tongue appeared to have a hole or a large ulcer or infection, it was suggested it may be a parasite mouth infection. The Leopard Seal also looked very thin, which made me wonder if it was unwell, or not able to eat with the mouth infection. I am not an expert, but I am sure a marine vet would identify the mouth infection.

I shared my photos and a video of it moving with Parks staff, Norfolk Island Flora and Fauna, and also on a Facebook link relating to Southern Ocean and Australian Leopard Seal sightings. Another local was asking for images and videos to sent to her friend at SeaWorld, Australia, so a vet could look at the images.

I also message South Australia Museum to contact Dr Peter Shaughnessy who visited Norfolk Island in June 2015 and spoke about seals at a Norfolk Island Flora and Fauna meeting. Dr Shaughnessy has spent many years involved in seal studies in Southern Australia and the Kangaroo Island area which has Australian fur seals and the long nose fur seals (New Zealand fur seal).

During the sightings the Norfolk Island National Park Manager, Zoe Knapp, spoke on the radio and advised the public not to approach the Leopard Seal and to keep dogs away for their safety as more importantly to give the Leopard Seal space so it could rest. There were also public notices on Facebook, with information regarding the Leopard Seal and the need to treat it as a dangerous mammal, and to let it rest and recover.

“We are asking that people please refrain from taking dogs on the beach for the next couple of hours, and please don’t interfere with or touch the seal as it is unsafe and may cause distress to the seal.”

On Thursday morning, with spring tides, the Leopard Seal had moved up the beach above the high tide mark. There were security tape put in the area to warm people to not enter the area and to give the Leopard Seal space.

On Friday the local radio informed the community that the Leopard Seal had left the beach, and if it didn’t return, it would be safe to walk dogs along the beach again.

I checked out a few details on the internet to learn more about Leopard Seals, which are a southern ocean mammal, not normally this far north on a sub-tropical island. Looking at my photographs I definitely agree that no one should approach a Leopard Seal or let their dogs go near, the mouth filled with teeth looks extremely dangers, I have read that they can be very aggressive.

The following details are extracts from a few different web pages, I am sure if you also checked out the internet, you could also learn more about Leopard Seals.

• Name - Leopard seal or sea leopard
• Scientific name - Hydrurga Leptonyx
• Type - Marine mammal
• Diet - Birds, fish, penguins, cephalopods, krill and other seals
• Lifespan - Up to 26 years
• Habitat - Antarctica, subantarctic islands (near sea ice)

The “leopard seal”, also referred to as the “sea leopard”, is the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic. Its only natural predator is the orca.

A fierce predator with an aggressive temper, feared by penguins and other Antarctic seals alike – meet the leopard seal. They can be easily identified by their dark grey bodies with their iconic black spots. This incredible pinniped, belonging to the earless seals, is not only perfectly adapted to its environment, but also highly intelligent.

Like other “true seals”, leopard seals do not have external ear structures (i.e. pinnae). Instead, they have internal ear canals that connect with the environment via circular openings.

Like other “true seals”, leopard seals do not have external ear structures (i.e. pinnae). Instead, they have internal ear canals that connect with the environment via circular openings.

Leopard seals gorge on various species! Penguins, birds, fish, cephalopods and even warm-blooded prey, such as other marine mammals and seal species, are part of a leopard seal’s diet. When hunting penguins, leopard seals are quick to catch them underwater, or when they slip into the water off the sea ice. They even hunt large penguin species such as emperor penguins. And hunting is only part of the food acquisition process. For a more leisurely pace, the grooved teeth in their massive jaws are able to filter krill out of the sea.

It feeds on a wide range of prey including cephalopods, other pinnipeds, krill, fish, and birds, particularly penguins. It is the only species in the genus Hydrurga. Its closest relatives are the Ross seal, the crabeater seal and the Weddell seal, which together are known as the tribe of Lobodontini seals. The name hydrurga means "water worker" and leptonyx is the Greek for "thin-clawed".

While leopard seals prey on many other marine mammals, they do not have many natural predators in the wild. Commercially hunted in the past, nowadays the only natural predator is the Orca (killer whale).

Adult females tend to be on average 1.5 times larger than adult males, in some cases even twice as large. Leopard Seals Sing Underwater, during the breeding season both males and females become vocal.

Leopard seals are highly solitary and do not like to live in groups. Males and females will part soon after mating. In general, leopard seals will live alone or with their sole pup. They are territorial and will attempt to drive off any animal that gets too near.

There have been numerous accounts of leopard seal encounters with humans that have not ended pleasantly.

Here are a couple of interesting links I have sourced the above details from.

https://poseidonexpeditions.com/about/articles/leopard-seal/

Leopard Seal - 10 Facts About Sea Predator | Poseidon Expeditions

Leopard seal – Australian Antarctic Program (antarctica.gov.au)

https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/animals/seals/leopard-seal/

Also attached are a few photos I took this week of the Leopard Seal on 2 and 3 October 2024 at Cemetery Beach, Kingston, Norfolk Island

Betty Matthews

4 October 2024