Out-of-the-ordinary wildlife sightings
This was a week of unusual marine wildlife sightings along the Zululand coastline
IT is no question that the Zululand coastline produces some of the most interesting, and at times unexpected, wildlife sightings.
This week was no different when no fewer than three out-of-the-ordinary sightings of marine wildlife were experienced.
On Wednesday morning two Mtunzini residents were strolling along the beach when they came across a lone stranded penguin.
As the African penguin is resident only on the south-western coast of South Africa, and other species in other countries’ waters, this one was clearly far away from its natural habitat.
PHOTO: Arboretum Veterinary Clinic/Facebook
According to the residents’ Facebook post, the penguin was removed from Mtunzini beach and transported to uShaka Marine World.
Thursday ended on a sad note for one three-day-old Risso’s dolphin which was found stranded in shallow waters in Richards Bay.
Two men reportedly found the stranded dolphin and made numerous attempts over many hours to push it into deeper waters, to no available.
PHOTO: iSimangaliso Wetland Park/Facebook
Unlike the rare Humpback dolphin which thrives in Richards Bay’s shallow, turbid waters, Risso’s dolphins prefers deeper waters and is rare in our waters.
Richards Bay SPCA, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and Dr Otto were on scene and the decision was eventually taken to euthenise the dolphin.
On a happier note, also on Thursday, iSimangaliso Wetland Park staff photographed a hippo heading into the surf at Nine Mile Beach, off Lake Sibaya in the coastal forest section of the wetland park.
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