Dear SMART Members and Friends,
This week brought us routine monitoring, a dramatic entanglement rescue requiring multi-agency cooperation, and the arrival of a special visitor who may be staying for weeks!
Routine Beach Monitoring
Wednesday, January 21st: A large Cape Fur Seal hauled out at Hartenbos late afternoon. Michael assessed and determined the animal was resting. He monitored until sundown to alert beachwalkers of its presence. The next morning, the seal was no longer visible and presumed to have returned to sea.
Multi-Agency Entanglement Rescue
Saturday, January 24th: We received notification about an entangled seal at De Vette Mossel in the Great Brak area. Val responded, but was informed by a walker that the seal had returned to the water. However, just before she arrived home, volunteers Gerrie and Marietjie (who had also responded) spotted the seal back on the beach.
The Rescue Operation: The fishing gut had cut deeply into the flesh around the neck and upper body – an entanglement that had clearly occurred many days before. We requested assistance from Mossel Bay Garden Route SPCA, who immediately sprang into action:
- They collected our hoop net from Tersia
- Five SPCA team members arrived to free the seal from its “captivity”
- The animal was immobilized
- The crow’s nest of gut was carefully cut away
- Once released, the seal headed into the water at warp speed
We hope the lacerations heal quickly and that the seal manages to catch food. It’s heartening to have organizations like SMART and SPCA working together for the welfare of our marine animals.
Thank you to Marianne, Wally, and the rest of the SPCA team! Also sincere thanks to Gerrie and Marietjie, who got very wet and hot while monitoring and assisting with the rescue.
Meet “Lu-Seal” – Our Latest Long-Term Visitor!
Also Saturday: A large female elephant seal hauled out on the rocks in front of the car park in Gourits. Our long-standing, experienced volunteers Hanli and Nikky put up barrier tape and organized monitors to keep watch over her.
They’ve named her “Lu-Seal” (brilliant!), and it’s likely she has hauled out for her annual moult, which can take 3 or more weeks. This means we’ll be monitoring her for an extended period to ensure public safety and her undisturbed rest.
For more information and photos of both incidents, please visit our Facebook page.
Stay well and be kind to yourself and others.
Until next week, The SMART Team
CRITICAL REMINDER: ALL seals should be considered potentially rabid. Never approach, touch, or attempt to return stranded marine animals to the water. Always call SMART responders and maintain a safe distance while waiting for trained personnel to arrive.