Pup season is upon us. We met with the Municipality and took to the airwaves to warn the public, pulled out all the stops to recover a rare adult male humpback dolphin at Wilderness, and recorded the first dead seal pup of the season.
Season Monitoring Planning Meeting
📍 Location: Mossel Bay Municipality 📅 Date: Wednesday 28 October 👤 Attended by: Tersia, Val
- Tersia and Val attended the annual Municipal Season Monitoring Planning Meeting for all stakeholders.
- Black seal pup season coincides with the influx of holidaymakers, so it is necessary to inform the public about this annual occurrence.
⚠️ Public notice: Do not touch or approach any seals, and notify SMART!
Radio Interview: Pup Season and Rabies
📍 Location: Suid Kaap Stereo 📅 Date: Thursday 29 October 👤 Featured: Tersia, Val
- Tersia and Val were interviewed on Suid Kaap Stereo to heighten awareness of pup season, as well as the risk of rabies in the seal population.
📻 Public notice: Stay away from seals and stay safe.
Deceased Humpback Dolphin, Wilderness
📍 Location: Wilderness 📅 Date: Friday 30 October 👤 Responders: Lily, Norman; Donovan, Andile (SANParks); PDSA George
- A deceased humpback dolphin stranded at Wilderness. Smartie Lily responded and found an adult male.
- Due to the importance of this stranding, all the stops were pulled out to collect the carcass and arrange temporary storage. With assistance from SANParks, the animal was transported to the PDSA in George, to be necropsied by Dr Greg Hofmeyr at a date to be confirmed.
- We are indebted to our volunteer Lily and her husband Norman, Donovan and Andile from SANParks, and the PDSA for their invaluable support. It was a trying day!
- Please visit our FB page for photos and interesting information about vulnerable and endangered humpback dolphins.
🐬 Status: Carcass recovered and in temporary storage at PDSA George. Necropsy by Dr Hofmeyr, date to be confirmed.
First Seal Pup of the Season, Hartenbos
📍 Location: Hartenbos 📅 Date: Sunday 1 November 👤 Reported by: Stefanie
- Stefanie reported a dead seal pup at Hartenbos, the first of the season.
🕯️ Status: Deceased. First pup recorded this season.
Weaner Cape Fur Seal, the Point
📍 Location: The Point 📅 Date: Sunday 1 November 👤 Responders: Michael, Linda
- A weaner CFS was found at the Point in dire condition. It died minutes before Michael and Linda arrived to collect it.
- Unfortunately, as explained last week, no testing will be done.
🕯️ Status: Died before collection. Not tested.
Till next Sunday, keep well and make your X on Wednesday! 👍