Encountering (and touching) a leopard seal at night on a beach in Tasmania.

Well, where do I begin?
Firstly, I should say we've never seen a seal this close before and we were quite tired at the end of a very big day of hiking and climbing. We didn't really realise it was a leopard seal until later on (makes sense now, look at those jaws!) and so my attitude towards it at the time was more curious and concerned for the seal, rather than my own safety.
Also, it moved like a man in a sleeping bag on land, so I didn't feel too worried being close to it!

We thought it might be ill, but in hindsight I think it was just trying to sleep and was likely annoyed by our headlamps! Perhaps the title of this video should be "Leopard Seal Irritated by Humans and Pees".

Leopard seals are rare to spot on Australian beaches so this was quite an amazing experience!

This was at Fortescue Bay, on the Tasman Peninsula in Tasmania, with my sister.

21st April 2023.

Видео Encountering (and touching) a leopard seal at night on a beach in Tasmania. канала Samuel Vella