Panicked penguin in lucky escape from the jaws of hungry leopard seal as it narrowly makes it to shore after THREE HOUR chase

By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 20 August 2013

A panicked penguin narrowly escaped the gaping jaws of a hungry leopard seal after beating it to this rocky shoreline in Antarctica.
An incredible set of pictures captured the scenes as fellow gentoo penguins desperately propelled themselves from the icy water after a feeding excursion off Cuverville Island.

The seal, around three-and-a-half meters in length, failed in its attempts to catch the penguins during the ordeal, which lasted around three hours.

P-p-p-pick up a penguin: A gentoo penguin runs for safety as a hungry leopard seal prepares to lunge

P-p-p-panicking now! The spooked penguin hops to safety as the sharp-toothed sea mammal surges forward in an attempt to snap it up

Phew... The penguin makes it out of the seal's reach as it waddles over the rocks of Cuverville Island in the Antartic

Ravenous: The hungry leopard seal shows off the fate which the panicking penguins have been so eager to avoid

It lurked around the shoreline, stalking the penguins underwater, until one landed in the right spot for the chase to be on.

South African-born Ben Cranke, 49, spent the day photographing Cuverville Island's large gentoo penguin colony. The rocky expanse in Antarctica, which lies just south of Argentina, is a popular nesting ground for gentoo penguins.

After scouting the shoreline, Mr Cranke, who's a veterinarian by training but switched to photography in 2006, found the ideal spot to watch the action from just two meters away.

He said: 'The penguins propelled themselves at great speed out of the icy waters and onto the rocks, scurrying past me to make their way inland. Then the reason for their panicked exits soon became apparent - a leopard seal was on the hunt and gentoo penguins were on the menu.

'The seal pursued its prey right out of the water, launching its body onto the rock shelf in an attempt to catch one.

'Some penguins literally escaped by their tail feathers - especially those which were completely unaware of the seal. Those that did see the seal would torpedo out of the water, fly for about ten meters, crash into the rock shelf and waddle off as fast as they could.'

Last time someone did that trick... A penguin is so eager to escape certain death at the jaws of the leopard seal he accomplishes the Biblical feat of walking on water

Move those little legs! South African-born Ben Cranke, 49, who took the photos, described how the flightless marine birds 'propelled themselves at great speed' as they made their escape

Move those little legs! Ben Cranke, 49, who took the photos, described how the flightless marine birds 'propelled themselves at great speed' as they made their escape

Ducking and diving: A penguin makes a quick switch and move to avoid the seal's predatory advances

If only these wings worked: A penguin flaps furiously as the seal approaches, but fails to take flight

I'm outta here: This crafty bird has left the hungry seal half beached on a rock as he hops out of harm's way

After lunging for a penguin and missing, the seal languished on the rocks before sliding into the water and disappearing.

Mr Cranke described how the seal would reappear, pop out of the water and look him in the eye - as if to say 'I know you're there!'

He added: 'The seal unsuccessfully hunted a few dozen penguins before disappearing to try his luck elsewhere.'

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