Wildlife Image of the Week for the week ending Jan 3rd, 2014: Charles Glatzer - Southern Sea Lion Mauling Gentoo Penguin

Congratulations Chas!

Penguins have an incredibly difficult life, and it starts before birth. The predation of eggs and young chicks by raptors, southern petrels, and more is astounding in numbers. I personally watched over 20 eggs and newly hatched chicks (some still having the shell attached) get taken within a few hours at one rookery. I spent two days concentrating on documenting only predation, and I produced a number of amazing images. However, it was the witnessing the ferocity and ease of a southern sea lion attacking, playing with and dismembering a number of adult gentoo penguins in the surf that definitely put things in perspective.

Southern Sea lion mauling gentoo penguin
1DX, 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X @ 560mm, 1/6000 @ f/8, ISO 800. Postproduction LR5, CS6, Intensify Pro

Great catch! Congratulations!