Seal leaps to attack eagle.

For the first time, scientists have witnessed grey seals attacking eagles swooping down from the air by spraying water at their attackers.

An unprecedented interaction between a grey seal and a white-tailed eagle. Photo: Clare Jacobs

A study from the University of Portsmouth in England, published in the journal of the Isle of Wight Archaeological and Natural History Society, details an event that occurred in Newtown Harbour, Newsweek reported on March 7. A resident named Clare Jacobs took a photograph capturing the moment a white-tailed eagle swooped down to the water during high tide. Suddenly, a grey seal leaped from the water and sprayed a stream of water directly at the predatory bird. This type of defensive behavior had never been witnessed or recorded before.

According to the study, the grey seal had previously barked a warning at the eagle. But the bird ignored it and still dived into the water. As a result, scientists had the opportunity to learn more about the two predators and how they interact.

White-tailed eagles were once extinct on the Isle of Wight in the 18th century but were reintroduced in 2019 and have since thrived. Grey seals and white-tailed eagles are common sightings on the Isle of Wight, but this is the first time an interaction between the two species has been directly observed, according to Megan Jacobs, a paleontologist at the School of Environment, Geography and Geosciences at the University of Portsmouth.

Seals spray water as a defense mechanism or to deter airborne predators. It could also be a way for them to ward off white-tailed eagles competing for prey such as fish. "This interaction challenges our current understanding of animal defense mechanisms. I was very excited to see the photo because spraying water is usually only seen in humans, camels, and some venomous snakes, or gilled fish," Megan said.

An Khang (According to Newsweek )

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