It has been a difficult week, physically and emotionally. After almost four weeks ashore, we lost George the elephant seal, alongside a run of other call-outs that stretched our team to its limit. Once again, we saw proof of how SMART responds as a team, and how valuable every member of that team is.
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. 🐾