UNNATURAL ACT: Why are male fur seals raping penguins on these sub-Antarctic islands?
A GROWING number of seals are having sex with penguins on a desolate island in the sub-Antarctic - leaving scientists baffled.
Fur seals observed engaging in shocking extreme behaviour
Fur seals have been filmed attempting to copulate with penguins by research teams documenting the wildlife in the desolate wasteland.
The shocking videos show the massive, if young, seals, mounting the unfortunate birds as the rest of the flock look on.
Some horrified animal lovers have described the scene as an act of animal rape.
Researchers said they first saw a seal trying to have sex with a king penguin on Marion Island - a sub-Antarctic island that is home to both species - in 2006.
Scientists said they could only speculate what lay behind the seals' behaviour
This really made us sit up and take notice
Researchers first noted the aggressive sexual behaviour in 2006
All four known sexual incidents followed a common pattern. Each time a seal chased, captured and mounted the penguin. The seal then attempted sex several times, lasting about five minutes each, with periods of rest in between.
In three of four recorded incidents the seal let the penguin go but on one occasions the seal killed and ate the penguin after trying to mate with it.
Scientists said these were the only known cases of mammals trying to have sex with birds.
They said they could only speculate about why the seals are behaving this way but suggested it may be becoming a learned behaviour among seals on the island.
One one occasion a seal killed and ate a penguin after trying to have sex with it
Prof de Bruyn said: ”Seals have capacity for learning - we know this from their foraging behaviour for example.
“So male seals may see each other coercing penguins, then attempt it themselves.
"Perhaps it is a release of sexual frustration, given the hormonal surges during seal breeding season. It is very unlikely to be failed mate recognition - the misidentification of the penguin as a female seal.
"All in all it's difficult to say.”
Marion Island is a volcanic outcrop midway between the equator and the South Pole administered by South Africa.
It is a designated Special Nature Reserve under the South African Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act.
The only human inhabitants of the islands are the staff of the research station run by the South African National Antarctic Programme.
In 2003, the South African government declared the Prince Edward Islands a Special Nature Reserve, and in 2013 declared almost 70,0000 square miles of ocean waters around the islands a Marine Protection Area, creating one of the world's largest environmental protection areas.