Showdown between seal and octopus caught on camera off New Zealand coast
THE battle was on when this hungry fur seal took on an octopus off the coast of New Zealand’s South Island.
A NEW Zealand kayaking guide has captured a life-and-death battle between a hungry fur seal and an octopus.
Kaikoura Kayaks guide Conner Stapley was out with three tourists off the coast of Kaikoura, on the upper South Island, yesterday, when he came across the epic battle, reported The New Zealand Herald.
He noticed thrashing on the surface of the water, and soon realised it was from a big male seal attacking the octopus.
The kayakers were soon spectators in a grisly battle as the octopus tried, and failed, to avoid becoming lunch.
It’s suspected that the seal dragged the octopus up from the bottom of the ocean, before battling it out at the surface.
Mr Foy said sometimes the octopus breaks free, but not this time. This time, the fur seal got his lunch.
But it wasn’t the nicest way to go — pieces of octopus sometimes land in the nearby kayaks.
It’s not the first time a Kaikoura Kayaks group has spotted such a battle. Owner Matt Foy said they’d come across battles before, with some lasting up to 20 minutes.
And another Kaikoura resident Paul Boocock, owner of local B&B The Factory, captured this stunning pic a few years ago and shared it with news.com.au
Kaikoura is usually known for its whale watching, but these images prove it could have another tourist drawcard right on its doorstep.
This article was originally published on the New Zealand Herald and is republished here with permission.
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