New Zealand leopard seals discovered eating sharks for the first time

Friday, 17 December 2021

Jahmon Wilson had just caught a kingfish off Nelson's Boulder Bank when a bronze whaler decided it wanted a snack.

In a world first, it has been found leopard seals in New Zealand have been feeding on sharks.

While leopard seals are apex predators who have been known to feast on penguins and other seals, this is the first time researchers have found evidence that sharks are also on the menu.

The researchers, from groups, institutes and universities throughout New Zealand and Australia, sorted through more than 100 leopard seal poos to compile the evidence.

A leopard seal was found with a shark spine lodged in its face.

Dr Krista van der Linde from LeopardSeals.org, the senior author of the study, said the find was “next level incredible”.

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A leopard seal lies in the sun on the concrete at the Timaru Yacht club. (File photo)

The group looked at the remains left in the poo and, using DNA sequencing, were able to identify remains from a shark.

It’s possible sharks are an important part of the leopard seal’s diet, researchers say. (File photo)

“We were blown away to find sharks were on the menu, but then we also found that elephant fish and ghost sharks were being hunted by the leopard seals,” van der Linde said.

“These fish have large spines which help protect them from predators and sure enough there were wounds on the leopard seals, sometimes even big spines embedded in their faces – one leopard seal had at least 14 such wounds.”

Dr Ingrid Visser, the co-founder of LeopardSeals.org and a co-author on the study, said she had studied orcas for 30 years and had seen them eat sharks regularly.

However, it was surprising that leopard seals were doing this too.

“To know there is another marine mammal also munching on sharks, well, that has implications for the whole food web and our understanding of how it all is interlinked.”

The high level of shark remains they found in the poo meant sharks may be an important part of the leopard seals’ diet, van der Linde added.

Leopard seals are a protected species, mostly found in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic areas.

They are sometimes seen around New Zealand, including the top of the South Island and at Auckland's Westhaven Marina.

Advice from the Department of Conservation for anyone who sees a leopard seal basking or swimming in the sea is to let it be and keep their distance.

However, if it is a situation that poses a threat to the public or the animal is at risk, people should contact DOC on the 24-hour emergency number, 0800 DOC HOT (0800 36 24 68).