A weary southern elephant seal that swam nearly 2‚000 kilometres from his home on the Marion Islands is soaking up the sun on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast.
The tired traveller was found on Oslo Beach near Port Shepstone on Wednesday. And now as the juvenile seafarer gathers his strength in the shallows‚ experts say he will likely make the long journey home - but not before he rests up and regathers his strength.
The seal was found by Police Search and Rescue officers who had responded to the beach to search for a body. Instead‚ they spent some time in the sand babysitting the seal while waiting for uShaka SeaWorld personnel to arrive from Durban. Marine Biologist Ann Kunz said that the seal appeared “fat and healthy” for his age.
“He is a juvenile male and was looking good and fat. He is very far from home and it is not the first time that we have seen one of these southern elephant seals on our shores‚” she said.
His presence‚ she added‚ was difficult to explain.
“We call these rogue seals because sometimes they get caught in the wrong current and lose their way. It may also have had to do with the sardine run but it is a phenomenon we cannot explain.”
Kunz said that the seal would likely rest for a couple of days before returning to the water and likely‚ his home island 1‚892km away. If anyone spots seals on the beach‚ contact Ushaka SeaWorld on 031 328 8222. People are warned not to approach the animals.
- TimesLIVE
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