Great release for Gru
A satellite tag has been fitted to the seal's back so his journey can be followed.
GRU, an adult Sub-Antarctic fur seal which was brought into uShaka Sea World after being stranded on Banana Beach, has been released off Durban.
The seal was brought to uShaka by staff from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in April this year. When he first arrived he was desperately thin and had injuries to his flippers and an infected left eye.
But after uShaka staff treated Gru, he quickly regained his strength and soon started polishing off six kilograms of fish a day. The seal gained more than 20 kilograms in the six weeks he was at uShaka Sea World. After a month it became apparent that he was ready for release and plans began.
Mike Meyer from Oceans and Coasts, based in Cape Town, flew to Durban to secure a satellite tag on Gru’s back so that e information on his movements post release could be received.
Last Thursday, Gru was encouraged into a crate and loaded onto a bakkie for the short drive to the ski-boat club in Durban. Ann Kunz, spokesman for uShaka, said he was loaded onto a rubber duck and taken 10 nautical miles out to sea.
He was not the only discharged patient on the boat as a gannet, that had also spent time in the rehabilitation centre, was released from the boat a short distance from shore.
After the crate door was lifted, Gru lent forward and peered into the water for a second before diving in without a backward glance.
Ann said the staff was visibly overjoyed and followed his movements in the water for a minute or two while he remained close to the surface. Then, like all fit seals should, he dived down and was not seen again.
“We will start receiving satellite information in a few days and it is hoped that Gru will not head north but south, either along the coast or straight down towards Marion Island,” she said. Gru’s journey will be followed with great interest.
