QUESTION:
Has a human ever been attacked or injured by a leopard seal? 

                Vicki Heisler
                Fourth grade teacher
                Meeker Elementary
                Greeley, CO, USA


ANSWER from Polly Penhale, Program Manager
            Office of Polar Programs,National Science Foundation
            Tue, 25 Feb 97 09:22:06 EST

Dear Ms. Heisler and Students,

We don't have much data on leopard seals actually attacking a human. 
We have anecdotal information that leopard seals have tried to take a 
human, probably by mistaking the human for its normal food. For 
example, I've heard that a leopard seal tried to bite a person's 
foot--that person was standing at the ice edge, where leopard seals 
tend to grab off penguins. The seal probably took the human for a 
penguin.

Thanks for your question!

Polly P.