Dear SMART Members and Friends,
A quieter week for rescues, but certainly no rest for our dedicated Smarties as we ramped up public education during the peak holiday season!
Public Awareness Morning: Reaching Hundreds
Monday, December 22nd: We held an Awareness Morning at Hartenbos Seefront Mall, strategically timed to inform the influx of holiday visitors about seal pups stranding on our busiest beaches.
By midday, our team was exhausted – but thrilled! Hundreds of vacationers stopped at our table (and visited with Sammy the Turtle) on their way to the beach. The response was overwhelming:
- We received most welcome unsolicited donations from generous visitors
- Sammy was without doubt the star of the show!
- A word of caution: Being inside the Sammy costume on a hot summer day is like overstaying your time in the sauna!
Enormous thanks to our volunteers who sacrificed precious holiday time to educate the public: Ursula, Marlize, Michelle, Louis, Sarie, Marietjie, Gerrie, Marelize, and Val.
Seal Monitoring
While the awareness event was underway, we still responded to calls:
- Monday morning: A seal reported at Beacon Point. Michael assessed and confirmed it had returned to sea.
- Saturday, December 27th: A large seal resting at the Point. Louis reported no intervention needed.
- Sunday, December 28th: The same seal continued resting near the tidal pool. Louis monitored during the morning, and Caitlyn reported it had returned to the water by afternoon.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
As we face the New Year with determination, we look back at 2025 and all we achieved with satisfaction and a smidgen of pride.
This year brought:
- Marathon monitoring operations (Columbo’s 41+ day visit!)
- Intensive pup season rescues
- Dramatic entanglement interventions
- Educational outreach to thousands of students
- Countless successful returns to Seal Island
- Growing community partnerships
None of this would be possible without our extraordinary volunteers, partner organizations, veterinary teams, and the generous public who support our mission.
Thank you for being part of SMART’s journey in 2025. Here’s to another year of protecting our precious marine wildlife!
Support S.M.A.R.T. through the Woolworths App
Woolworths no longer issues physical cards or forms – everything is now done conveniently on your phone. Please follow these easy steps to support Stranded Marine Animals Rescue Team:
- Download the Woolworths App
- Register if you don’t have a card, or log in if you already do
- At the bottom of the screen, select “Loyalty”
- Then choose “Join myDifference” (this is the new name for the Causes programme)
- Tap “Get Started” and follow the prompts (you’ll enter your ID, personal details, accept the T&Cs, and finish setup)
- Then select “Explore Loyalty Hub” – you should now see your card number and barcode (this is what you scan at Woolworths)
- Go to Causes, then select “Choose my own”
- Under Environment, scroll until you find Stranded Marine Animals Rescue Team, then tap Add
Your support makes a difference every time you shop at Woolies! Thank you for helping us save our precious marine wildlife.
Wishing you a wonderful New Year filled with hope, joy, and continued care for our ocean friends!
Until next week, The SMART Team
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Never approach, touch, or attempt to return stranded marine animals to the water. Always call SMART responders and keep a safe distance while waiting for trained personnel to arrive.
