My Antarctic Expedition – My attempt to save our planet (Part 9)

This is a part of my ?Antarctica Calling? series, a story capturing my journey to Antarctica as a part of 2041, in the toughest leadership course on the planet as I learnt how can we save the only planet we have.

Note: All images are personally clicked by me. For permission to share these images on your blog or posts, kindly comment below.

First Zodiac Excursion (Cond.)

As we turned around a particularly large iceberg, the zodiac stopped and started drifting. I stood in confusion until the reason came into view. Our zodiac driver had stopped the vessel for us to look at a leopard seal. Leopard seals are powerful mammals with distinct physical definition not visible in other seals. Over 500 kg in weight when full grown, they feed on penguins and other seal cubs. The powerful aura the seam emanated was overbearing. It looked at us with irritation in its eyes as we stood in amazement trying to understand its behaviour. As it tossed over, I saw the various scars it had on its belly, possibly a reminder of the times it had been in a fight. Its majesty was however not the only thing it exuded. A strong odour hung around the iceberg, a kind of thick mist that in concentrated doses could have us all faint. It tossed and turned, basking in the sun and unceremoniously ignoring us. It was cute in a very unfamiliar way, when it rolled on its back, it scrubbed itself on the ice and rolled its tail in the air with its flippers. A magnificent sight, I could only hope to imagine what their cubs would be like. I kept my gaze fixed on the seal as our zodiac started drifting away, to something much more adorable. My first penguin colony was coming up. - See more at: http://protectswhatsgood.in/shreyak-blog/first-zodiac-excursion/#sthash.ddNpqTIo.dpuf