It seems that the Antarctic may be a hot spot for document disturbing animal sex deed . Many years ago , British explorer George Murray Levick caughtAdélie penguinsengaging in all sort of bacchanal , such as necrophilia , sexual compulsion and sexual abuse of chicks . Now , scientist have observe fur seals trying to have sex with penguins . While these observations may not be as lurid as what Levick documented , they are unusual nonetheless .
This bizarre intimate behavior was actually first documented in2006when scientists blemish a fur Navy SEAL trying to copulate with a magnate penguin on Marion Island , a removed and mostly innocent island in the sub - Antarctic . At the time , the researchersspeculatedthat the incident may have fall out because the Navy SEAL was frustrated or sexually inexperienced . instead , they suggest , it could have been an turn of aggressiveness as the seal attempt to protect its territory . Or it simply could have been a playful number that turned sexual .
Upon returning to the island to keep wildlife observations , scientists observed the strange routine a further three fourth dimension , which take them by surprise to say the least .
“ Honestly I did not expect that follow up sightings of a similar nature to that 2006 one would ever be made again,”saidlead scientist Nico de Bruyn , “ and certainly not on multiple occasions . ”
As name in the journalPolar Biology , the team keep an eye on young manly Antarctic pelt seals sexually coercing ( using military unit to achieve mating ) big businessman penguins on three freestanding juncture . The sexuality of the penguins was strange , but they appear to be in skilful wellness .
All four acts detect so far seemed to follow a similar pattern where the stamp Salmon P. Chase , captures and then mounts the penguin . The seal then assay to couple with the penguin several time , with each movement go around five minute . Of course , all of this molestation was exhausting , so the Navy SEAL would take a break in between attempts .
Like most birds , penguins do n’t have external genital organ and instead possess an porta prognosticate a cloaca . They pair by pressing these reed organ together in what is know as a “ cloacal candy kiss , ” in which the spermatozoon is transferred to the female person . Traumatically for the penguins , some of the seals were thought to have successfully penetrated the victims ’ cloaca during the bit asbloodwas observed around the orbit afterwards . Although Navy SEAL often capture and consume penguin , in all but one of the number the seal let the penguin go afterward . After the most lately document incident , however , the seal killed and eat the penguin .
Why fur seals are engaging in these unusual activities is dumbfound . While the scientists can only speculate , it could mayhap be link up to hormonal surges live during the nurture time of year . instead , penguins could merely be an well-situated target to practice copulation with .
Although the harassment is difficult to explain , the possible addition in frequency seems to advise that it may be becoming a learned behavior on the island . It is known that SEAL are able-bodied to learn from each other , so it is possible that it is spreading through reflection . The researcher would therefore wish to continue their observation to aver this .
[ Viathe BBC , Polar Biologyandthe Mirror ]
