Cape Town residents stunned as elephant seal roams suburban streets
In an unexpected twist, an elephant seal surprised residents along Sir Lowry’s Pass Road when it appeared far from its usual ocean habitat.
In a surprising twist, a massive elephant seal wandered into a suburban area along Sir Lowry’s Pass Road on Monday, far from its usual ocean habitat.
Cape of Good Hope SPCA inspectors quickly arrived at the scene and are now working to relocate the marine mammal safely and without causing it stress.
“This is a delicate situation,” said SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure the animal is not harmed or further stressed. Our inspectors are trained for these kinds of rescues, but the cooperation of the public is essential.”
Avoid the area
Officials have urged the public to stay away from the area and allow the seal — which could weigh up to 1 000kg, the space and quiet it needs during the rescue efforts.
Elephant seals are not typically found in suburban environments and are seldom spotted this far from the coast.
Experts suspect the animal became disoriented or exhausted after hauling itself out of the ocean.
Although rare, this isn’t the first time a large marine creature has grabbed attention by showing up in an unexpected location.
Wildlife officials are urging the public to keep their distance, avoid offering help, and allow trained professionals to handle the situation.
The SPCA has confirmed that it will provide updates as the situation progresses.