A rare and welcome visitor has drawn attention along the Gouritsmond coastline after a female elephant seal hauled out on the beach on Friday evening.

Mossel Bay Advertiser reports that Dr Greg Hofmeyr, marine biologist and curator of the marine mammal collection at Gqeberha’s Bayworld, said the seal is undergoing her annual moulting process, a natural but energy-intensive phase during which elephant seals spend extended periods on land.

He said she would likely remain at Gouritsmond for the next three weeks.

“During this time, the seal sheds her old skin and fur, which requires her to stay ashore with minimal disturbance,” said Hofmeyr.

Volunteers monitor seal

Volunteers of the Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (Smart), Hanli Venter and Nikki Mills, have been on site since her arrival, educating the public and monitoring the seal’s condition.

“People are very curious and excited, and our role is to make sure they understand why it’s important to give her space,” said one of the volunteers. “She is healthy and doing exactly what nature intended.”

Smart has affectionately named the seal Lu-seal, a name that has quickly caught on among locals.

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