The George Municipality, together with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and the Stranding Marine Animal Rescue Team (SMART), has issued a public safety notice for Victoria Bay beachgoers.
Picture from video posted by Michael de Nobrega
An immature male southern elephant seal, nicknamed Columbo, has been resting at Victoria Bay since 3 June. Officials have requested that members of the public keep a safe distance to avoid harm to the animal and to themselves.
Columbo is around four to five years old and weighs approximately 500 kilograms. He is identifiable by a white mark on his left eye and a green flipper tag labelled “0196”.
He was first recorded on the South African coastline near Pinnacle Point, Mossel Bay, in November 2023. Since then, he has visited Victoria Bay on three occasions. His current stay is the longest to date.
During this period, Columbo has been observed engaging in mock fighting behaviour with rocks. This has caused visible wear to his teeth and has led to the formation of a thickened skin patch on his chest.
Volunteers from SMART monitor the seal during the day. A security guard on site keeps watch overnight. Despite these efforts, Columbo remains vulnerable to disturbances. A recent incident involved a member of the public provoking the seal, which led to aggressive behaviour.
Veterinarians, marine biologists and environmental officials have assessed the situation. It was concluded that Columbo should not be moved.
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The public is advised to:
- Remain at least 20 metres from the seal
- Keep dogs on a leash and away from the area
- Avoid touching, feeding or filming the animal at close range
- Report any misconduct to SMART on 072 227 4715
Southern elephant seals are protected under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act. Interference with the animal is a criminal offence.
Article shared by Cape Town ETC
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