Three incidents across two days this week — a frustrating near-miss with an entangled seagull at Kleinbrak, a deceased Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin at Dana Bay bearing deep lacerations of unknown origin, and a brief but welcome visit from a male elephant seal at Vleesbaai who was already heading back to sea before the team arrived. A week of mixed emotions.
Incident 1 — Entangled Seagull, Kleinbrak
📍 Location: Kleinbrak 📅 Date: Monday 15 June 👤 Responders: Michelle, Val
- Michelle and Val responded to a report of an entangled seagull at Kleinbrak. The bird had both legs wrapped in fishing line but was still capable of flight — which it demonstrated repeatedly, staying just out of reach of the team.
- Despite best efforts, the seagull could not be caught. As the report noted, not even Cheslin Kolbe could have run it down. The drive home empty-handed is always a disconsolate one.
🔴 Status: Seagull not caught — still at large with fishing line on both legs. If spotted again in the Kleinbrak area, please report to SMART immediately. Early intervention remains the best hope for this bird.
Incident 2 — Deceased Dolphin, Dana Bay (First Beach)
📍 Location: First Beach, Dana Bay 📅 Date: Tuesday 16 June 👤 Responders: Sarie, Val (assisted by two anglers)
- A deceased dolphin was reported at First Beach, Dana Bay. Sarie and Val responded and found the carcass being buffeted in the surf.
- Two anglers on the beach came to the team’s assistance and helped pull the dolphin higher up the beach — a fine example of public cooperation. Their help is gratefully acknowledged.
- Samples were collected and basic measurements and photographs taken. The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) had deep, ragged lacerations on its back, consistent with attack by a large predator with sharp teeth. The cause remains speculative.
- All documentation and samples will be delivered to DFFE in Cape Town on Wednesday.
🔬 Species & Samples: Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus). Deep lacerations to the back — cause unknown. Samples and data en route to DFFE Cape Town. Further analysis may shed light on cause of death.
Sighting — Elephant Seal Bull, Vleesbaai
📍 Location: Vleesbaai 📅 Date: Tuesday 16 June (this afternoon) 👤 Responders: René
- A male elephant seal hauled out at Vleesbaai on Tuesday afternoon. A video was captured before he returned to the sea.
- René went down to assess the situation but the bull had already moved on by the time she arrived.
- We hope his compass is pointed firmly south — back to his subantarctic home waters where he belongs.
🦸 Status: Elephant seal departed before assessment. No intervention required. A brief but welcome visit — safe travels south, big fellow.
Till next Sunday — go well. 🐾