Elephant seal returns to land — spotted this time in Simon’s Town

Cape Town’s favorite blubbery visitor has hauled out again, this time at the Naval Base in Simon’s Town.

The SPCA confirmed that the Southern elephant seal, unofficially named Gordy, is currently safe and secure in a location where he cannot access any roads, posing no immediate risk to his well-being.

A SPCA inspector and City of Cape Town officials are on site, closely monitoring him.

For now, he’s simply resting, which is completely normal behaviour.

The SPCA will continue to monitor him closely and are ready to step in if he shows any sign of distress or needs help.

BACK STORY

A Southern elephant seal rarely appears in a residential neighbourhood, but a sub-adult male surprised residents in Gordon’s Bay by lounging alongside Sir Lowry’s Pass Road, nearly one kilometre inland.

The call came in at 06:20, and by 07:00, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA had arrived to assess the situation.

Multiple agencies coordinated a nearly nine-hour rescue operation to ensure the sub-adult male’s safety and return him to a more suitable coastal environment.

From seaside to suburbia

Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) are the world’s largest seal species and are usually found in sub-Antarctic regions.

Although young male elephant seals occasionally haul out along South Africa’s coastline during moulting or rest phases, sightings remain rare.

However, they rarely make it inland or enter neighbourhoods, which is considered highly unusual.

“Wild animals don’t always follow the script, and this seal’s unexpected journey into a residential area created real cause for concern,” said Belinda Abraham, Spokesperson for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.

“With so many moving parts – traffic, onlookers, and a massive marine mammal in distress – it took rapid coordination and clear focus to keep everyone safe”.

A safe return to the sea

While the seal appeared to be unharmed, his urban detour posed risks – both to himself and to motorists.

With the assistance of the Law Enforcement, Traffic Services, SAPS, Gordon’s Bay Security and Gordon’s Bay Medical Ambulance Services, the area was secured and traffic redirected while the SPCA, City of Cape Town’s Coastal Management and Marine Unit, SANParks, Two Oceans Aquarium, Shark Spotters and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) stepped in.

The SPCA monitored the seal’s welfare throughout the incident, including during sedation by a wildlife veterinarian and the difficult process of loading the animal into the City’s large game capture trailer. 

By late afternoon, the seal had been given the all clear by the veterinarian and safely transported to Koggel Bay, where his recovery from sedation was monitored before our team left the site.

A community effort

“It truly takes a village says Abraham. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who stepped up today – for their professionalism, their compassion, and their quick response to an animal in distress.”

Residents who encounter wildlife in urban spaces are reminded not to approach, feed, or attempt to assist the animals, but rather to contact the Cape of Good Hope SPCA for assistance. 

The number to dial is 0217004158/9, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.