Range

Waters off the coast of Antarctica provide a home for the leopard seal. They can also be found along the coast of the sub-Antarctic islands. Some individuals will occasionally drift into waters off the coast of South America, New Zealand, Australia and Africa though this is uncommon.

Habitat

Pack ice is normally found in the habitats of leopard seals so that they can haul out. They spend most of their time in the water.

Reproduction

Mating occurs between November and February in leopard seal populations. Males will vocalise to attract a mate. They mate in the water after which the male leaves. He will go and mate with numerous females before the breeding season ends.

During her 11 months gestation the female stocks up on food. At the end of this she digs a hole in the pack ice where she will give birth to a single pup. She cares for this over a four week period in this hole. At the end of these four weeks the pup is weaned and they part ways so the female can breed again.

Some evidence suggests that the young leopard seals congregate together on sub Antarctic islands.

At three years of age a female leopard seal is sexually mature while this does not occur till the fourth year in males.