Editing Leopard seal (section)

==Relationships with humans==
Leopard seals are large predators presenting a potential risk to humans. However, [[Animal attack|attacks on humans]] are rare. Most [[human perception]]s of leopard seals are shaped by historic encounters between humans and leopard seals that occurred during the early days of [[Antarctic exploration]].<ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1017/S0954102006000058|title = Interactions between humans and leopard seals|journal = Antarctic Science|volume = 18|pages = 61–74|year = 2006|last1 = Muir|first1 = Shona F.|last2 = Barnes|first2 = David K.A.|last3 = Reid|first3 = Keith|issue = 1|bibcode = 2006AntSc..18...61M|s2cid = 53648359}}</ref> Examples of aggressive behaviour, stalking and attacks are rare, but have been documented.<ref name=NG_killer/> A large leopard seal attacked [[Thomas Orde-Lees]] (1877–1958), a member of Sir [[Ernest Shackleton]]'s [[Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition]] of 1914–1917, when the expedition was camping on the sea ice.<ref name="newscientistinquiry"/> The "sea leopard", about {{convert|12|ft|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1100|lb|abbr=on}}, chased Orde-Lees on the ice. He was saved only when another member of the expedition, [[Frank Wild]], shot the animal.<ref>{{cite book |last=Shackleton |first=Ernest |date=1998 |title=South |location=New York, NY |publisher=The Lyons Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/southlastantarct0000shac/page/112 112] |isbn=1-55821-783-5 |author-link=Ernest Shackleton |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/southlastantarct0000shac/page/112 }}</ref>

In 1985, Canadian-British explorer Gareth Wood was bitten twice on the leg when a leopard seal tried to drag him off the ice and into the sea. His companions managed to save him by repeatedly kicking the animal in the head with the spiked [[crampon]]s on their boots.<ref name="newscientistinquiry">Carrington, Damian (2003-07-24). [https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3978-inquiry-into-fatal-leopard-seal-attack-begins.html Inquiry into fatal leopard seal attack begins]. NewScientist.com. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.</ref><ref name=NG_killer/> On 26 September 2021, near the dive site Spaniard Rock at [[Simon's Town]], South Africa, three [[spear-fishermen]] encountered a leopard seal while spearing approximately 400 m offshore. The seal attacked them and, while they were swimming back to shore, disarmed them of their flippers and [[speargun]]s and kept harassing the men over the course of half an hour, inflicting multiple bite and puncture wounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsri.org.za/2021/09/nsri-appeal-to-the-public-to-be-cautious-around-seals-and-sea-animals-in-general/|title=NSRI appeal to the public to be cautious around seals and sea animals in general|website=National Sea Rescue Institute|access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref> Leopard seals have shown a predilection for attacking the black, [[torpedo]]-shaped [[Pontoon (boat)|pontoon]]s of [[rigid inflatable boat]]s, leading researchers to equip their craft with special protective guards to prevent them from being punctured.<ref name=NG_killer/><ref>{{Cite book|title = The Encyclopedia of World Wildlife|last1 = Briggs|first1 = Mike|publisher = Parragon|year = 2005|isbn = 978-1-40545-680-7|page = 60|first2 = Peggy|last2 = Briggs}}</ref> 

On the other hand, [[National Geographic|''National Geographic'' magazine]] photographer [[Paul Nicklen]] captured pictures of a female leopard seal bringing live, injured, and then dead penguins to him, possibly in an attempt to "nurture" the photographer; the seal apparently continued to provide penguins for Nicklen for four days.<ref>[http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/10/18/National-Geographic-Photographer-Paul-Nicklen-surprise-encounter-with-Leopard-Seal-Antarctica National Geographic photographer's surprise encounter with deadly predator]. dpreview.com (2012-10-18)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 11, 2014 |title=How a Leopard Seal Fed Me Penguins |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/140311-paul-nicklen-leopard-seal-photographer-viral |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228073531/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/140311-paul-nicklen-leopard-seal-photographer-viral |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 28, 2021 |access-date=April 23, 2023 |website=[[National Geographic]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Captivity===
{{Main|Taronga Zoo#World's only leopard seals in a zoo}}
[[File:Sealion in training (3616810581).jpg|thumb|Captive leopard seal, [[Taronga Zoo]]]]
The Taronga Zoo kept rescued leopard seals from 1999 to 2014. These seals were thought to be vagrants; washing up on Australian beaches emaciated and bearing bites from [[cookiecutter shark]]s. After being nursed back to health, they were not released back into the wild as it was feared that they would [[Pathogen transmission|transmit diseases]] to the wild population of leopard seals, so they remained in the care of the zoo until their deaths. In order from date of rescue, they were named Brooke, Sabine, and Casey.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Whisker into Leopard Seal Life |url=http://taronga.org.au/news/2018-07-11/whisker-leopard-seal-life |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=A Whisker into Leopard Seal Life {{!}} Taronga Conservation Society Australia |language=en}}</ref>

===Owha===
{{Main|Owha}}
[[File:Owha the Leopard Seal (cropped).jpg|thumb|Owha resting, [[Hauraki Gulf]] 2016]]
Owha (full name: {{Lang|mi|He owha nā ōku tūpuna|italic=yes}}) is a female leopard seal that remained around the coastline of the [[North Island]] from 2012 to at least May 2022, recognized by scars on her cheek and flank. She is claimed to be the longest tracked leopard seal in the world.<ref name="Provoked">{{Cite web |title=Leopard seal provoked |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2019/leopard-seal-provoked/ |access-date=11 June 2024 |website=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Owha and her friends awarded citizenship |url=https://niwa.co.nz/news/owha-and-her-friends-awarded-citizenship |access-date=11 June 2024 |website=[[NIWA]]}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=15 August 2019 |title=Oh no Owha! Seal makes snack of Auckland dinghies |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/396734/oh-no-owha-seal-makes-snack-of-auckland-dinghies |access-date=11 June 2024 |work=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref name="Owha">{{Cite news |date=14 October 2016 |title=Antarctic leopard seal given a name as it makes Auckland her new home |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/85369451/antarctic-leopard-seal-given-a-name-as-it-makes-auckland-her-new-home?rm=m |access-date=11 June 2024 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 June 2022 |title=Have you seen Owha? |url=https://www.facebook.com/LeopardsealsightingsNZ/posts/1737416676600872/ |access-date=31 July 2024 |website=[[Facebook]] |vauthors=((Leopard Seals NZ))}}</ref><!-- In response to a July 2024 comment asking if Owha has been seen since the post was made, Leopard Seals NZ wrote "unfortunately not". -->

===Death of Kirsty Brown===
In 2003, biologist Kirsty Brown of the [[British Antarctic Survey]] was killed by a leopard seal while conducting research  [[snorkeling]] in [[Antarctica]]. This was the first recorded human fatality attributed to a leopard seal.<ref name="newscientistinquiry"/><ref name=NG_killer>{{cite web|title=Leopard Seal Kills Scientist in Antarctica|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/08/0806_030806_sealkiller.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030808010225/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/08/0806_030806_sealkiller.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 8, 2003|work=National Geographic Society|date=August 6, 2003|first=James|last=Owen|access-date=2007-12-10}}</ref> Brown was part of a team of four researchers taking part in an underwater survey at South Cove, near the U.K.'s [[Rothera Research Station]]. Brown and another researcher, Richard Burt, were snorkeling in the water. Burt was snorkeling at a distance of 15 metres (nearly 50 feet) from Brown when the team heard a scream and saw Brown disappear deeper into the water. She was rescued by her team, but they were unable to [[resuscitate]] her. It was later revealed that the seal had held Brown underwater for around six minutes at a depth of up to {{convert|70|meters|ft}}, drowning her. Furthermore, she suffered a total of 45 separate injuries (bites and scratches), most of which were concentrated around her head and neck.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

In a report read at the inquiry into Brown's death, Professor Ian Boyd from the [[University of St Andrews]] stated that the seal may have mistaken her for a fur seal, or been frightened by her presence and attacked in defence; Professor Boyd said that leopard seal attacks on humans were extremely rare, but warned that they may potentially become more common due to increased human presence in Antarctica. The coroner recorded the cause of death as “accidental” and “caused by drowning due to a leopard seal attack”.<ref name="The Inquest of Kirsty Brown">Gyford, Sue (2003-11-14). [http://www.ecophotoexplorers.com/files/pdf/KirstyBrownInquest.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418201732/http://www.ecophotoexplorers.com/files/pdf/KirstyBrownInquest.pdf|date=2016-04-18}}. ecophotoexplorers.com. Retrieved on 2019-08-20</ref>

=== Conservation ===
{{Expand section|This section does not actually talk about the issues, logistics, and actions taken to conserve the species|date=May 2025}}
The only known predators of the leopard seals are orcas and sharks.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025|reason=What sharks? Are there records of southern sleeper sharks taking Hydrurga?}} Because they are limited to a subpolar distribution in the Antarctic, they may be at risk as [[polar ice cap]]s diminish with global warming. In the wild, leopard seals can live up to 26 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seals-world.com/leopard-seal/|title=Leopard Seal - Seal Facts and Information|website=www.seals-world.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-04-18}}</ref> Leopard seal hunting is regulated by the [[Antarctic Treaty System|Antarctic Treaty]] and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS).<ref name="Administrator"/>