Penguin Predators 

There are 4 main penguin predators.

1. Sharks

2. Killer Whales (Orca)

3. Leapord Seals

4. Fur Seals

~Sharks~

Sharks are generaly solitary hunters, but sometimes hunt in packs. They are very streamlined which makes them very fast and balanced. Sharks are a type of fish, which means they can't go on land. They breathe through gills, a set of slits in the back of their head. They stay away from land, but they will come closer if they spot a solitary penguin farther out to sea.

~Killer Whales (Orca)~

Orcas are very large marine mammals, but they are fast and streamlined. Because they are so heavy, they can't go on land. They hunt together in groups of 2 or 3. To get a penguin that is standing on an iceberg, one of the whales will push under the ice to make it slide up at an angle. The other orca will go over to the side where the penguin falls off ,and before the penguin can swim away, it's in the mouth of the orca.

~Leapord Seals~

The Leapord seal hunts alone and is capable of going both on land and in the water. It is a large and fairly slow marine mammal. One of the strange habits of the Leapord seal is that it can skin a penguin before it eats it. The seal will bite off the penguin's feet and shake vigerously. That pulls off the feathery skin of the penguin.

~Fur Seal~

The Fur seal is basically the same as the Leapord seal, but it's a bit faster. They will hunt in groups or alone. Fur seals are marine mammals and they can go on land and in the water. Like the Leapord seal, they are very slow on land, so they usually stay in the water to hunt.