據英國《每日郵報》報導，南非攝影師本·克蘭克(Ben Cranke)近日在南極洲拍到了一組一隻海豹追逐企鵝群的精彩畫面，凶猛的海豹和憨態可掬的企鵝大戰了三小時的「老鷹捉小雞」之後，企鵝終於搖搖擺擺地在千鈞一髮之際逃脫了魔掌。
在南極洲的冰天雪地中，一隻3.5公尺長的飢餓海豹正潛伏在水中，慢慢地在水下潛進以靠近馬上就要成為盤中餐的一群巴布亞企鵝，直到企鵝快要上岸的時候，海豹開始瘋狂地追逐這群企鵝，企鵝們則拼命從冰冷的水中向島上游去。只見已經發覺到海豹的企鵝一下子衝出水面，飛了十公尺遠直跌倒在岸上，然後起身搖搖擺擺地逃走了。還有一些沒有發覺到海豹的企鵝，它們差幾公分就成為海豹的『盤中餐』了。
直到最後，海豹追上了陸地，卻還是沒能逮到一隻企鵝，筋疲力竭的海豹趴在石頭上歇了一會兒後，溜入水中，宣告了這場長達三小時的追逐大戰的失敗。攝影師克蘭克在描述到海豹消失的場景時說道：『它消失後又突然從水中鑽出來，直盯著我的眼睛，好像在說「我知道你在那兒看著呢」。』
49歲的克蘭克曾經是一名獸醫，後來在2006年開始轉行做攝影師，此次他在南極洲的一座島上拍攝最大的巴布亞企鵝群。在岸邊巡視了一番後，克蘭克發現了就在自己兩公尺遠的這一驚心動魄的場面。
Phew. that was close! Panicked penguin in lucky escape from the jaws of hungry leopard seal as it narrowly makes it to shore after THREE HOUR chase
A panicked penguin narrowly escaped the gaping jaws of a hungry leopard seal after beating it to this rocky shoreline in Antartica.
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 metres 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 metres 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 metres, 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! 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.' |
發表於 2013-8-23 03:21 PM
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發表於 2013-8-23 04:04 PM
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