Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Leopards on Ice

A leopard seal and her pup sleep on the sea ice in Paradise Bay, Antarctica. This is a particularly rare experience because leopard seals usually keep their pups hidden to protect them from killer whales. Despite the fact that leopard seals do eat penguins, the reddish-pink color around the mother's mouth isn't blood, it's krill juice.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 12.2017
Date Uploaded: 05.2018
Photo Location: Antarctica
Camera: X-T2
Copyright: © Sam Gulino