School Visit: Milkwood, Mossel Bay

📍 Location: Milkwood, Mossel Bay   📅 Date: Thursday 22 October   👤 Team: Linda, Tersia, Ursula

• We continued with our school visits after a mid-year break, with a visit to Milkwood in Mossel Bay.
• A large number of learners were enthralled by Linda’s PowerPoint presentation, and mascot Sammy was once again a huge hit after his spa treatment and lengthy hibernation. Thanks to Tersia and Ursula, who also assisted.
• The headmaster must have approved, because we have been invited back to speak to the older groups.

🧸 Status: Visit completed. Invited back to present to the older grades.

Seal-Pup Training Course, Santos Beach

📍 Location: Santos Beach   📅 Date: Saturday 24 October   👤 Organised by: Stefanie de Graaff

• Stefanie de Graaff organised a seal-pup training course for new and old Smarties, held on Santos beach in preparation for the upcoming black pup season.
• Thank you, Stefanie, for the work you put into it. We are ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at us.

📋 Status: Training completed. Volunteers prepared for pup season.

Weaner Cape Fur Seal, Dana Bay Beach

📍 Location: Dana Bay Beach   📅 Date: Sunday 25 October (today)   👤 Guidance: Dr Greg Hofmeyr

• Numerous calls were received about a weaner CFS on Dana beach. Since last week, we have responded to a number of calls about weaner seals on our beaches.
• Dr Hofmeyr has shared information about these young seals, which haul out at this time of year. We will post his message to share this important information with the wider community.

🦭 Status: Weaners hauling out is normal for this time of year. Watch our page for Dr Hofmeyr’s guidance.

Till next week, be kind and be blessed. 🐾

Deceased Dolphin Calf, Wilderness

📍 Location: Wilderness   📅 Date: Wednesday 14 to Thursday 15 October   👤 Necropsy team: Lily, Michelle, Gerrie, Marietjie, Monica

• On Wednesday afternoon, a deceased dolphin was reported from Wilderness.
• A hastily convened necropsy team met on Thursday morning to collect samples and data. It was a small calf in excellent condition, with beautiful colours and no obvious cause of death.
• Huge thanks to Lily, Michelle, Gerrie, Marietjie and Monica for assisting at short notice.
• Monica offered to dig a hole above the high tide mark for the body parts we removed during the necropsy. In her enthusiasm, she made a hole large enough for us to bury the carcass afterwards!

🐬 Status: Necropsy completed, samples and data collected. No obvious cause of death. Buried above the high tide mark.

Yearling Seal, Victoria Bay

📍 Location: Victoria Bay   📅 Date: Thursday 15 to Friday 16 October   👤 Responder: Lily

• Two yearling seals were reported, at Victoria Bay and Glentana. Lily and Val responded and took videos and photos of two very thin and weak animals.
• Lily reported early on Friday that the Vic Bay seal had died overnight.

🕯️ Status: Died overnight. Not tested or examined for cause of death.

Yearling Seal, Glentana and Great Brak

📍 Location: Glentana; Great Brak estuary   📅 Date: Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 October   👤 Responder: Val

• The Glentana seal went back to sea and was seen later in the Great Brak estuary (presumed to be the same animal, given the short distance between the beaches). Val responded, and it swam out through the river mouth back to sea.
• On Saturday, a seal once again hauled out at Glentana (same seal?), and a video showed its laboured breathing and poor condition. It was very weak and fairly unresponsive.
• Sadly, it died overnight. Unfortunately, neither seal was tested or examined for possible cause of death. In an ideal world… we wish!

🕯️ Status: Died overnight after a weak, laboured final day. Not tested or examined.

Till next Sunday, be blessed. 🐾

Injured Coot, Glentana Beach

📍 Location: Glentana Beach   📅 Date: Wednesday 7 October   👤 Responder: Val

• A call reported an injured black bird on the beach at Glentana. Val was nearby, so she responded and rescued a red-knobbed coot with a broken leg. It was taken to HAH.
• This is the second time in the last few weeks that an estuary waterbird has been found some distance away on a beach. Have wings, can fly, I suppose.

🐦 Status: Rescued and taken to HAH for treatment of a broken leg.

Cape Fur Seal on the N2, Wilderness

📍 Location: N2 roadworks, Wilderness   📅 Date: Wednesday 7 October   👤 Involved: Eden SPCA; Cherie Cooke; SANParks rangers

• A large Cape fur seal was reported on the N2 at Wilderness, at the roadworks some distance from the beach. The Eden SPCA despatched two inspectors but, due to the roadworks, they could not locate the seal by the time they arrived.
• This was unfortunate, as we had been alerted that the unusual behaviour could possibly indicate rabies.
• Cherie Cooke, SPCA Area Superintendent, did some sleuthing and discovered that SANParks rangers had relocated the seal back into the ocean.

🦭 Status: Relocated to the ocean by SANParks rangers. Not examined, so rabies could not be ruled out.

Coming Up: Seal Pup Handling Workshop

📍 Location: To be announced   📅 Date: Ahead of the upcoming pup season   👤 Open to: New and old Smarties

• We are organising a workshop for new and old Smarties on the handling of stranded seal pups during the upcoming pup season.
• All rabies-vaccinated volunteers and other interested persons will be welcome to attend.

📋 Status: In planning. Details to follow.

Till next week, be blessed. 🐾

Penguin, Poort Tidal Pool

📍 Location: Poort Tidal Pool, the Point   📅 Date: Friday 25 September   👤 Responders: Maruschka and son; Carol (Saprec)

• A penguin was reported swimming in the Poort tidal pool at the Point. Although marine birds are rescued and cared for by Saprec, our volunteers will respond if needed.
• Smartie Maruschka and her son (a young passionate Smartie in the making) found a very weak bird in the pool. Carol from Saprec also responded, but sadly the penguin died just after being taken out of the water.

🕯️ Status: Did not survive, despite a prompt response.

Second Penguin Rescued, Poort Tidal Pool

📍 Location: Poort Tidal Pool, the Point   📅 Date: Saturday 26 to Sunday 27 September   👤 Responder: Maruschka

• Another penguin was spotted in the same area the following afternoon. Maruschka once again responded, but the bird was sitting in an inaccessible area, and trying to reach it would have been dangerous.
• By late afternoon they abandoned efforts and decided to try again the next morning.
• Third time lucky for Maruschka: this afternoon the penguin was spotted by members of the public, and she was able to rescue it! It will be cared for by Carol at Saprec until ready for release.
• Every SMART volunteer who rescues a penguin knows how special they are, almost as charming as subbies!

🐧 Status: Successfully rescued on the third attempt. In Saprec’s care pending release.

Till next week, be happy and kind. 🐾

Restless Seal, Glentana and Great Brak

📍 Location: Glentana; Great Brak   📅 Date: Thursday 17 to Friday 18 September   👤 Responder: Val

• Val responded to a seal at Glentana and monitored it during the afternoon. It was restless and kept returning to the very rough surf.
• Presumably the same plump seal hauled out at Great Brak the next day, then disappeared and came out at sunset at Glentana again.

🦭 Status: Restless but mobile, moving between two sites. No intervention required.

Deceased Seal, Tergniet

📍 Location: Tergniet   📅 Date: Saturday 19 September

• A photo was sent showing a plump deceased seal at Tergniet. Unfortunately, rabies testing is only done if there has been close interaction between seals, dogs or humans.
• Ideally this animal should have been tested, but we do not live in an ideal world. We did ask the removal crew to take extra precautions when burying this animal, which was done the same day.

🐾 Status: Not tested, criteria not met. Buried with extra precautions the same day.

International Beach Clean-up Day, the Point

📍 Location: The Point   📅 Date: Saturday 19 September   👤 Partner: Great Brak Conservancy

• We participated in International Beach Clean-up Day, under the umbrella of Great Brak Conservancy. We filled 4 bags of litter at the Point, and everything picked up was recorded on data lists.
• Besides glass, cigarette butts and plastic, we also collected lots of fishing line, 4 condoms, part of a cycling helmet, the handle of a golf putter and a piece of asbestos.
• Kudos to the Smarties who participated!

♻️ Status: 4 bags of litter collected and logged. Thank you to everyone who took part.

Sub-Antarctic Fur Seal Harassed, the Point

📍 Location: The Point   📅 Date: Sunday 20 September   👤 Responders: Ursula, Marelise, Louis

• A beautiful adult male sub-antarctic fur seal hauled out at the Point. Ursula and Marelise monitored him until after 16:00.
• Shortly after they left, two teenage boys started pelting it with stones! Louis immediately went down and spoke to them.
• Our pet peeve: members of the public who have more bravado than brains.

🦭 Status: Harassment stopped on site. Seal left undisturbed afterwards.

Cape Fur Seal, Die Bakke

📍 Location: Die Bakke   📅 Date: Sunday 20 September (today)

• Also late afternoon today, another adult CFS hauled out at Die Bakke. The mist has come in and people are heading home, so we will check tomorrow whether it is still there.

🦭 Status: Hauled out at dusk. Follow-up check planned for Monday.

Till next week, be blessed and keep well. 🐾

Seal Reported, the Point

📍 Location: The Point, below the zipline   📅 Date: Sunday 13 September (this afternoon)   👤 Responder: Mike

• Only one call was received this afternoon, to report a seal on the rocks below the zipline.
• Volunteer Mike went to the Point to assess, but it had already gone back into the water.

🦭 Status: Not located. Already returned to the water by the time of assessment.

Join Us: International Coastal Clean-up

📍 Location: The Point to the Harbour gate   📅 Date: Saturday 19 September

• Please diarise the International Coastal Clean-up next Saturday, 19th. It is an audited event, and all litter picked up is itemised and recorded.
• SMART will be covering the area from the Point to the Harbour gate. Bags, gloves, pencils and data sheets will be provided.
• Please join us for the sake of the environment.

📋 Status: Volunteers needed. All equipment provided, just bring yourself.

Till next week, be blessed. 🐾

Reported Seal, Hersham

📍 Location: Hersham   📅 Date: Tuesday 1 September   👤 Responder: Val

• A caller reported a seal at Hersham, and volunteer Val walked from Pienaarstrand to Hersham.
• No seal was found, assumed to have gone back into the water.

🦭 Status: Not located. Presumed to have returned to the water.

Two SAFS Collected for Rehab, HAH

📍 Location: HAH   📅 Date: Wednesday 2 September   👤 Involved: Dr Greg Hofmeyr; Hout Bay Seal Rescue

• Dr Greg Hofmeyr travelled from Gqeberha to collect two sub-antarctic fur seals (subbies) at HAH. They had been found on Cape Town beaches and rescued by Hout Bay Seal Rescue.
• Two HBSR volunteers drove them up to Mossel Bay, where Greg collected them for rehab at Bayworld. Lulu and Dolly joined in-patient Pebbles, for care until they are strong enough to be released.

🦭 Status: Lulu and Dolly transferred to Bayworld for rehabilitation, joining in-patient Pebbles.

Subbie Rescue and Transfer, Reebok Beach

📍 Location: Reebok Beach   📅 Date: Friday 5 to Saturday 6 September   👤 Responders: Michelle, Jèlane; Sr Stefanie (HAH); Nolan, Val

• Another subbie stranded on Reebok beach, here in Mossel Bay. He was rescued by Smarties Michelle and Jèlane and taken to HAH.
• This morning he was treated by Sr Stefanie for dehydration, and collected by Nolan and Val for a road trip to the Crags near Plett. There they met Greg for the transfer and next leg of the trip to Bayworld.
• We hope to see these four subbies released in a month or two, to swim the currents back to sub-Antarctica.

🦭 Status: Treated for dehydration and transferred to Bayworld. Release expected in a month or two.

Radio Interview: Rabies Awareness in Seals

📍 Location: Radio Suidkaap   📅 Date: Thursday 3 September   👤 Featured: Val; Fred Orban

• On Thursday, Val was interviewed by Fred Orban on Radio Suidkaap. The subject was rabies in seals, aiming to create awareness without scaremongering.
• Also highlighted was the work of Wits student Thabiso Mokhatshane, who needs 600 people to respond to a questionnaire for his MSc degree in Vaccinology. If you can assist, please click the link in the following post.
• He is looking for anybody who potentially comes into contact with seals, from Plett to Stilbaai: surfers, rescue workers, NSRI, lifesavers, shore and offshore anglers, ocean sports people and more. It takes about 15 minutes to complete the form on your phone.

📻 Status: Awareness raised. Survey still open, see the linked post to take part.

Till next week, be blessed and keep well. 🐾

Elephant Seal Ashore, Cape Point

📍 Location: Cape Point (outside our operational area)   📅 Date: Week of 24 August   👤 Notified via: Mossel Bay Stranding Network; Meredith

• We had only two reports, from two different people, about a large elephant seal ashore. Where? Cape Point, somewhat further than our operational area!
• We posted the photo and message on the Mossel Bay Stranding Network, and Meredith very quickly responded by notifying the relevant people.
• We are rather surprised that someone in the Cape Town area called our number, because he was advised to notify SMART by a friend. Not complaining, just glad we could get the message through.

🦭 Status: Report passed on to the relevant team in the Cape Point area.

Keep well, stay blessed. We hope for another quiet week. 🐾

Kogia Assessment, Jongensfontein

📍 Location: Jongensfontein   📅 Date: Monday 17 August   👤 Responders: Rene, Patrys, the Rangers

• The Kogia that had beached at Jongensfontein the day before was assessed, sampling was done and photos taken, as requested by Deon Kotze, DFFE.
• Many thanks to Rene, Patrys and the Rangers for being available. We are very grateful to have volunteers and supporters who are prepared to step into the breach in that part of the coast.

🔬 Status: Assessed and sampled for DFFE. Photos and samples submitted to Deon Kotze.

Deceased Seal, Viking Fish Factory

📍 Location: Viking Fish Factory   📅 Date: Thursday 20 August   👤 Responders: Mario; Carol (Saprec)

• Viking Fish Factory called to report an ‘animal’ wedged in between the dolosse. It is often a battle getting through security at the boom, but Mario persevered, and Carol from Saprec also responded.
• Mario did some hectic climbing and located a long dead seal in the water, lodged between the concrete dolosse.
• Viking called later that day to ask when we would be removing the animal. Not our mission, not the Municipality’s problem, let it be!

🦭 Status: Located, long deceased and inaccessible. No removal undertaken.

Till next week, be blessed and keep well. 🐾

Deceased Sub-Antarctic Fur Seal, Diaz Beach

📍 Location: Diaz Beach   📅 Date: Monday 10 August   👤 Responders: Johan, Riana

• A deceased sub-antarctic fur seal washed up at Diaz and was reported by volunteer Johan. The weather was really terrible, with continuous rain, lightning and thunder that prevented any sample and data collecting.
• Johan and Riana went down on Tuesday and reported that the carcass was decomposing and crawling with maggots, so no sampling was possible.

🐾 Status: Carcass too decomposed for sampling. No data collected.

Cape Fur Seal Monitoring, The Point

📍 Location: The Point   📅 Date: Tuesday 11 to Friday 14 August   👤 Monitored by: Tersia, Louis, Ursula, Sarie, Mario, Johan

• A CFS hauled out at the Point, in full view of the many visitors to that area. This necessitated ongoing monitoring by Smarties, to keep both the seal and the public safe.
• This animal returned to the water almost every day, then hauled out in the same area after an hour or two. It spent four days on and off the rocks, and we are immensely grateful to Tersia, Louis, Ursula, Sarie, Mario and Johan for watching over it.

🦭 Status: Monitored for four days. Returned to the water of its own accord.

In Memory of George: Kleinbrak

📍 Location: Kleinbrak   📅 Date: Thursday 13 (passed), necropsy Friday 14 August   👤 Present: Dr Greg Hofmeyr, Mfondo; Drs Frans and Cailin, Sr Stefanie, Robert (HAH); Riana, Val

• During this time we had continued monitoring George at Kleinbrak. He was getting increasingly weaker and thinner despite treatment from the veterinary staff at HAH, and showed no interest in fresh morsels of fish we tried to feed him.
• Dr Greg Hofmeyr made arrangements to come down on Friday to assess the situation. On Thursday morning, during our daily visit, we found that he had died, still lying in the same mud wallow he had been resting in for almost four weeks.
• Greg travelled down on Friday as planned, and together with his research assistant Mfondo, the entire crew from HAH (Drs Frans and Cailin, Sr Stefanie and assistant Robert) and Smarties Riana and Val, a comprehensive necropsy was carried out. Back-breaking work for hours, with heavy hearts.
• Please visit the HAH FB page for photos and further information.

🕯️ Status: George passed away after almost four weeks ashore. Necropsy completed; findings to follow.

Cape Fur Seal Euthanised, Kleinkrantz

📍 Location: Kleinkrantz, near Wilderness   📅 Date: Saturday 15 August   👤 Responders: Lily, Shelly, Monica; Capt Johan Ehlers

• No respite for weary souls. A severely injured CFS stranded at Kleinkrantz. Although just beyond our operational area, the George Smarties hit the road running. Thank you, Lily, Shelly and Monica, for responding to this call-out.
• After sending photos to Dr Hofmeyr, he advised that the animal be euthanised. Our go-to person in these instances is Capt Johan Ehlers from Mossel Bay. Without demurring, he drove the 60km to the beach to end the poor animal’s suffering.

🦭 Status: Euthanised on humane grounds, beyond our usual operational area.

Deceased Kogia Reported, Springerbaai

📍 Location: Springerbaai   📅 Date: Sunday 16 August (today)   👤 Follow-up: Rene; Deon Kotze

• This afternoon we received a report about a deceased Kogia at Springerbaai. Rene will locate it tomorrow and liaise with Deon Kotze about further steps to be taken.

🐬 Status: Reported. Retrieval and next steps planned for Monday.

This week has been sobering and sad, but once again we have proof of how SMART responds as a team, and how valuable every member of our team is. Smarties, you are simply the best! Salute and thank you.

Till next week, go well. 🐾