QUESTION:
Are any Antarctic animals cannibalistic?  Under what conditions?

        From the 4th Graders in Ms. Heisler's class
                 Greeley, Colorado

ANSWER from Donna Patterson, Research Assistant to Dr. Bill Fraser
            Palmer Station, Antarctica
            Wed, 12 Feb 1997 19:07:36 -0500

Dear 4th Graders and Mrs. Heisler,

Yes, there are animals that are cannibalistic in Antarctica.  Both 
South Polar and Brown skuas will occasionally consume other skua 
chicks.   In times of food shortages, or during bad storms when the 
birds cannot forage (either at sea or in a penguin colony), they will 
sometimes look for chicks that are wandering into other territories.  
South Polar skuas will also eat a chick that is unattended (no parent 
guarding it) which may happen if food at sea is difficult to find.  
Kelp gulls will also kill other gull chicks, but this does not happen 
often.  Southern Giant petrels are scavengers, they will eat anything 
dead, and that might include another Giant petrel- although we have 
not seen that here.  

Thanks for your question!

Donna Patterson