[WATCH] – Adorable seal visits Amanzimtoti Main Beach

Amanzimtoti Main Beach welcomed an adorable visitor to its shores on Monday, 5 July.  A young seal stopped at the beach near Iyoni Rocks to get some rest in between his travels. Some lucky residents were fortunate enough to get a sighting of the seal. “My family and I spotted the seal from our flat. At first, we thought it was a stump on the beach, but then the seal moved,” said an overjoyed resident, Marize de Gray Birch.  Two people were on the beach and tried to take pictures of the seal, I think he must have gotten scared. He made his way back into the sea shortly after.”

“With everything going on in the world right now and the amount of stress everyone is facing, it was wonderful to see this adorable creature. The seal had certainly brought some smiles along when he stopped at the beach. He was so cute and before he could go back into the water, he turned back to beach to say goodbye and then swam off. The visit seemed like a miracle of hope and made me appreciate all sea creatures even more. Seeing a seal, in reality, is an incredible experience.  We are keeping an eye out to see if the seal returns to the beach. The community wishes him well during his travels and hope he returns home safely. This was a magical moment that I will remember forever.”

According to the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) vagrant seals regularly wash up onto KwaZulu-Natal beaches between May and September.

“Not all seals found on beaches are sick or injured. Seals often come ashore to rest or moult. If given the opportunity to rest without disturbance, they usually go back to the sea on their own when they are ready. A marine animal is considered stranded when it is unable to return to its natural habitat on its own or without assistance,” states the organisation.

If you spot a stranded sea animal, you should call a wildlife organisation, approach the creature cautiously, gather information by taking note of the area and other data that may help authorities and stay with the animal until help arrives. SAAMBR also states that people should not chase the seal back into the seal or touch, feed or handle the seal. Rather, residents should set up a perimeter around the seal to keep onlookers at bay until the relevant authorities are on-site. To report stranded animals call uShaka Sea World on 031 328 8222 or 031 328 8060. The organisation assists with marine animals such as dolphins, whales, seals, turtles, penguins.

ALSO READ: Rescued seal treated at uShaka Sea World rehabilitation centre

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