Seal pups were dying from a 'corkscrew killer' on a Canadian island. It turned out to be cannibals.
A mystery surrounding the deaths of seal pups on Sable Island has been solved, revealing that cannibalistic behavior among male gray seals is the cause. Previously thought to be due to sharks or boat propellers, new research has confirmed the spiral-shaped injuries are inflicted by adult males attacking pups. This behavior has been documented in other regions but was only recently observed directly on Sable Island.
- ▪Dead seal pups on Sable Island were found with spiral-shaped injuries for decades.
- ▪New research identified cannibalistic male gray seals as the culprits behind these injuries.
- ▪Cannibalism in gray seals has been documented since 1992, but direct observations on Sable Island were only made in 2024.
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Animals Marine Mammals Seal pups were dying from a 'corkscrew killer' on a Canadian island. It turned out to be cannibals. Dead seal pups on a Canadian island have been found with mysterious spiral-shaped injuries for years. The wounds were thought to be the work of sharks or boat propellers, but new research confirms a different cause. By Olivia Ferrari published 22 May 2026 in News When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. A key mystery has been solved for seal pups at Sable Island.
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