National Geographic videographer Paul Nicklen gets an incredible story and series of images from his time with an instructive leopard seal. A few thoughts:
1. Nicklen could have moved on after the first day when it was obvious that the Leopard Seal was taking care of him. The choice to stay suggests that Nickelen was overjoyed to get this particular interaction with the seal — as a means of telling a story.
2. It is cool that we get a contrast to the usual story of brutal nature, but the cute nature is just as toxic to the animals that live out there. Global warming, pesticides, chemical run-off, garbage, and general intrusion into a low-human area are all recent human contributions to the arctic. I sincerely love the video and the suggestion of care from a predator is distinctive. It seemed like there was a lot of food around for the seal. I wonder if the leopard seal would be as generous when food is scarce.
3. I feel bad for the penguins.
Life of refinement 