Why Even Other Seals Are Terrified of the Leopard Seal

Most adult crabeater seals examined in one Antarctic study carried the same parallel scars. The animal blamed for them is another seal. People say everything in Antarctica is terrified of the leopard seal, so we checked the evidence: what scientists have measured, what they have only observed, and what the internet made up. CHAPTERS 0:00 The scars on 85 seals 0:45 The animal: size, teeth and a sieve 2:06 Exhibit one: the penguins 3:33 Exhibit two: the scars 3:56 Exhibit three: one beach (Cape Shirreff) 5:40 What the internet gets wrong 6:51 What about us? 8:05 The twist: singing in the dark 8:46 The verdict SOURCES Siniff & Bengtson (1977), Journal of Mammalogy, via the Antarctic Environments Portal: https://environments.aq/publications/leopa... Kienle et al. (2022), Frontiers in Marine Science: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.976019 Australian Antarctic Division, leopard seals: https://antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica... Hocking, Evans & Fitzgerald (2013), Polar Biology: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-012-1253-9 Krause et al. (2020), diet at Cape Shirreff: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7... Ainley et al. (2005), Antarctic Science: https://penguinscience.com/reprints/pen_se... Ainley & Ballard (2012), Polar Biology: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-1042-x Krause et al. (2022), Frontiers in Marine Science: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.796488 Sperou et al. (2025): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1... Krause et al. (2015), via Scripps / UC San Diego: https://today.ucsd.edu/story/peeking_into_... Pitman & Durban (2012), Marine Mammal Science: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2010.0... PBS Nature, "Expedition Killer Whale" (2025) Circumpolar population estimate: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1... British Antarctic Survey, inquest statement (2003): https://bas.ac.uk/media-post/antarctic-tra... Muir, Barnes & Reid (2006), Antarctic Science Paul Nicklen's account, National Geographic Rogers (2017): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5... Chambers, Buck & Rogers (2025), Scientific Reports: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11008-8 van der Linde et al. (2022) and Borras-Chavez et al. (2024), births outside Antarctica PHOTO CREDITS (in order of appearance) NASA ICE; NOAA Photo Library; Dr. Robert Ricker, NOAA/NOS/ORR; Dr. David Demer, NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC/AMLR; NOAA NMFS SWFSC AMLR Program (all public domain, via Wikimedia Commons). "20090117-IMG 1581 (15907301208)" by nomis-simon, CC BY 2.0. "On the prowl (39783834533)" by Rob Oo, CC BY 2.0. "Killer Whales Hunting a Crabeater Seal" by Callan Carpenter, CC BY 4.0. "DSC 3274 Leopard seal" by Igor Gvozdovskyy, CC BY 4.0. "Hydrurga leptonyx 246166551" by Hiranya Anderson, CC0. "Leopard Seal and pup by Jeff Lipshitz (49848008693)" by Channel City Camera Club, CC BY 2.0. All via Wikimedia Commons. Licences: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 and https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0. Photos are cropped and framed. HOW THIS VIDEO WAS MADE Researched and scripted for this channel, animated in an original cut-paper style, narrated with an AI voice. No footage from other channels or broadcasters.