Port Edward seal a ‘first’ for science

A SEAL, rescued from a beach in Port Edward and taken to uShaka Sea World, has notched up a scientific ‘first’.

Arcto, as his carers have named him, is the only Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazelle) to have ever been recorded on South African shores.

Minutes after Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife brought him to the Sea World rehabilitation facility, staff knew he was very different from any of the previous seal admissions.

“I have been working with stranded seals for more than 25 years but have never observed a seal like Arcto before. He was placid, accepting of the assistance we offered, and appeared to be content and oblivious to any possible or perceived threats,” said Colette Bodenstaff, the assistant curator of mammals and birds.

The young sea creature is a long way from home.

According to Colette, Antarctic fur seals were naturally found at Antarctica, with most being resident on the South Georgia Islands. Breakaway groups were, however, also found on the South Sandwich Islands, Falkland Islands and Kerguelen Island.

With South Africa being the closest to Kerguelen Island, it was possible that he had wandered north from there.

Watching him rest quietly on the unfamiliar surface slab after taking a leisurely swim in the pool, his carers found it hard to imagine what he could be making of his new surroundings.

“This new world must be indescribably different from his natural world, 4 382km away in the freezing Antarctic waters,” said Colette.

Although it was well documented that wandering or vagrant seals of all species were found from time to time, far from their natural feeding grounds, the reasons for their wandering ways were not well understood.

Arcto was a young adult and juveniles and young seals were known to spend several years at sea before returning to their birth sites to mate for the first time.

“Perhaps Arcto was drawn by South Africa’s reputation as a warm, welcoming and friendly country. Kerguelen Island is known as one of the most isolated places on earth,” she said.

Although extremely thin and lethargic, there were no visual indications he had suffered injury and he was therefore left to rest before staff attempted to offer him food.

The animal health team have now worked with the animal behaviourists to map out a treatment plan with the ultimate goal of fattening him up and releasing him.

As this is all new uncharted territory for both the Sea World staff and Arcto, is it difficult to predict how long it will take for him to gain sufficient weight for the long trip back home.

As Antarctic fur seals typically feed on krill, squid, fish and penguins his carers are trying to entice him with hake and squid.

“As yet he has not accepted this food but we are confident that within a day or two he will be eating. The sooner he starts eating, the sooner he can start gaining weight,” said Colette.

Once he has started eating scientists will take fur and whisker samples for ongoing research by Marine Mammal Research experts into the seals’ distribution and behaviour.

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