LuSeal is back, and she’s brought her sand spa with her! This week delivered a delightful surprise as our beloved elephant seal returned to Gouritz, becoming an instant celebrity. Plus, we’re gearing up for an exciting seasonal transition. Read on for all the updates from 26 January – 1 February!
LuSeal’s Return: The Comeback We Needed đŚ
Wednesday: The Great Departure
On Wednesday, 28 January, our beloved elephant seal LuSeal left the beach at Gouritz. We pondered where, or if, we would see her again. Would she journey to distant shores? Had she moved on for good? The uncertainty had us all wondering about our frequent visitor.
Friday: Surprise! She’s Back!
Well, nature had other plans! On Friday, 30 January, LuSeal made a triumphant return arriving back on the exact same beach! Clearly, she knows a good spot when she finds one. Home is where the sand is.
LuSeal’s Sand Spa Experience
Since her return, LuSeal has been treating herself to a full sand spa experience, continuously covering herself with damp sand under the very hot sun. This behavior, while adorable to watch, serves an important purpose: the cool, wet sand helps regulate her body temperature during the heat of summer.
Unsurprisingly, she’s become quite the celebrity! LuSeal has been much photographed by locals and visitors alike, all captivated by this magnificent creature resting on our shores. She’s basically the most popular resident of Gouritz right now.
đ Community Heroes: Hanli & Nicky Our SMART team members Hanli and Nicky have done a sterling joborganising monitors to protect our lovely lady LuSeal. Their dedication ensures she can rest peacefully without disturbance, and their coordination of volunteers has been nothing short of exceptional. Thank you both for your tireless efforts!
What’s Next for LuSeal?
We’re hopeful that LuSeal will be vaccinated and tagged during her stay at Gouritz. Tagging will allow researchers to track her movements and learn more about elephant seal migration patterns, while vaccination helps protect her health. These procedures are done carefully and with minimal disturbance, ensuring LuSeal’s wellbeing remains the top priority.
Seasonal Shift: Seals to Turtles đ˘
We’re optimistic that the seal pup season has ended. As the breeding season winds down and pups mature, we’re turning our attention to the next chapter in our coastal conservation calendar.
The team is now preparing for the upcoming turtle hatchling season! This exciting time will bring tiny loggerhead and leatherback hatchlings making their first brave journey to the sea. We’re getting ready with training, equipment checks, and coordination with nesting monitoring teams.
đ˘ What to Expect: Turtle Hatchling SeasonIn the coming weeks, watch for updates about:⢠Hatchling emergence events⢠What to do if you find disoriented hatchlings⢠Beach lighting guidelines to help turtles reach the ocean⢠How you can help protect nesting sitesStay tunedâturtle season is always full of wonder and important conservation moments!
Till next Sunday, totsiens and keep well! đ
From LuSeal’s delightful return to preparing for the magic of turtle hatchling season, each week brings new reasons to celebrate the incredible marine life that graces our shores. Thank you for being part of this journey with us!