Deadly Beauty-Leopard Seals

Paul Nicklen

National Geographic Magazine

Once one penguin chick decides to head to sea for the first time, many follow. A leopard seal usually only takes one penguin at a time so the rest can make it past the gauntlet. Once the penguins are at sea, they will remain for many months feeding mostly on krill and squid. Penguin populations are showing a massive deciline caused by global warming and not leopard seal predation.

Paul Nicklen, "Deadly Beauty-Leopard Seals," in POYi Archive, Item #45238, http://archive.poy.org/items/show/45238 (accessed April 21, 2025).