birding-aus

Leopard Seal

To: "Birding Aus" <>, "Auscetnet" <>, "Victorian Cetacean Strandings Network" <>
Subject: Leopard Seal
From: "Simon Mustoe" <>
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 10:49:21 +1100
Hi,
 
An update on news of Leopard Seals in Port Philip Bay. Contrary to other postings, there were two animals rather than one. The female is probably still around but it occupies private beach areas in Patterson Lakes. The area is quite difficult to search. It had been spending time basking on the beach behind Canberra Street which is viewed from the street on the opposite side of the channel where there is a small park you can look over. The animal is a small first-year female about 2m in length.
 
Another animal was also present a while ago. This was a large male which caused havoc by chasing dogs and small children who approached the waters edge. The local newspaper reported that it apparently bit someone who was out on the water but I don't know any more about this.
 
According to the local Wildlife Care Officer Jenny Mills, they are regular and annual in the area. It could be that Patterson Lakes is good synthesised habitat for a Leopard Seal. There is an abundance of Bream and also a small Little Penguin colony which may tempt such an animal to stick around and feed. Her opinion, which is certainly valid, is that these animals occur and behave naturally and should be left to their own devices if at all possible. Ordinarily they are not unwell but they may be thin, having been driven north from teh Antarctic on a quest for food.
 
The issue of human safety is one that is of some concern though. I spoke to a number of people walking and fishing in the area most of whom had not heard of a Leopard Seal. An ex-whaler who new that they had a reputation for being viscious said they used to shoot them on sight in the 1950s on board the whaling boats. Sadly in years past, shooting of 'rogue' seals has also been conducted by Australian State authorities, although clearly Leopard Seals are just behaving normally and are only a problem when they come into contact with humans -rather like Australian Magpies. These are not animals that can be easily translocated but Melbourne does have expertise to do this and I would hope it would be encouraged if at any time an animal was considered to be a nuisance.
 
Leopard Seals are a natural feature of Port Philip Bay as recognised in the draft Strategic Management Plan for the Port Philip Bay Ramsar Site (Parks Vic, Feb 2002). However, they don't seem to be widely recognised by the public who, through no fault of their own, may come into contact with this potentially dangerous wild animal. Hopefully messages like this could encourage better public awareness of Leopard Seals and, in the event, help NRE to manage the interaction between seals and people and benefit conservation.
 
Cheers,
 
Simon.
 
 
_____________________________________________
 
Simon Mustoe - Director
 
AES Applied Ecology Solutions Pty Ltd.
59 Joan Avenue
Ferntree Gully
Melbourne
Victoria 3156
AUSTRALIA
 
Telephone 03 9762 2616
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