Selso’s incredible journey home

SELSO the seal has made his way to Marion Island, after being released by uShaka Sea World staff earlier this year.

In June 2013, the young southern elephant seal washed up at Southbroom, exhausted and starving. He was taken to the uShaka Sea World rehabilitation centre where he was named Selso.

Southern Elephant Seals normally inhabit the Southern Ocean with the closest island colony site being Marion Island 2200km south of South Africa making it unusual for the young seal to strand on the KZN coast.

When Selso arrived he weighed 73kg, less than half of what he should have weighed, and needed to put on 110Kg before he could be released. This took seven months and on 9 January 2014 Selso boarded the MSC Sinfonia cruise ship and was released just before sunset on 11 January, 25 nautical miles due south of Port Elizabeth. Prior to leaving the uShaka Sea World rehabilitation centre he was fitted with a satellite tracking tag which would record his movements for up to one year.

It took no more than two days once released for Selso to get his bearings and head in the right direction. His epic journey took him steadily southwards covering a distance of more than 8 000 kilometres in just less than six months. Selso, like all Southern Elephant Seals spends his life at sea except when breeding and moulting. His southward journey included spending time in areas known to be good feeding grounds. By June he had almost reached the Antarctic ice shelf but thankfully did not remain there long before turning around and heading northwards.

He continued his northward journey and on 30 June reached Marion Island. His satellite transmitter indicated his location on the south side of the island and research staff were sent to access his condition. He was found to be in excellent condition enjoying a well deserved rest among the boulders.