Killer Seals Like Shark Guts

Killer Seals Like Shark Guts

28 Mar 2015

It's like Jaws but, this time, the shark is on the menu. In an incident that turns the phrase "shark attack" on its head, a seal has repeatedly attacked, killed and partially devoured medium-sized sharks. If this turnabout proves common, ecologists may need to reassess the role of seals in marine ecosystems.

More than a decade ago, Chris Fallows, a dive-boat operator based in Cape Town, South Africa, happened to see a young Cape fur seal chasing, tossing and eventually killing a blue shark. The seal then ate the shark's internal organs, which are the most energy-rich part of a shark's body.

Then, in 2012, it happened again. This time, Fallows was underwater photographing 10 blue sharks when a young male Cape fur seal arrived and proceeded to chase and kill five of the sharks, once again eating only their guts.

He has now published a study on this discovery with his colleagues.

Nice little place they have down there by the water. Good place to go for a quick and fun outing. Interesting seeing all the various types of marine life they have in one building.

Archie

The Island Bay Marine Education Centre's Bait House Aquarium is an interactive marine experience based in Island Bay on Wellington's south coast.There are lots of different sea creatures on display including a couple of octupuses, sea horses, lobsters to name a few. You can also gently touch and handle starfish, sea cucumbers, sea anemones, crabs and other sea life found in the local rock pools outside.There's far more inside than you would expect. The volunteers and expert staff are very friendly and helpful. It is really reasonably priced and we were all entertained for ages. Really good fun and educational too. Definitely worth checking out with the family.

Haydn