Watch: Seal’s safe return after nearly 9-hour rescue operation
A rare coastal visitor brought traffic to a halt in a Western Cape town and sparked a multi-agency rescue mission that had onlookers hooked.
The elephant seal that gave Gordon’s Bay its ‘seal of approval’ after shuffling through a suburban part of the harbour town yesterday was safely returned to the ocean.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA reports that the rescue operation lasted nearly nine hours. Since then, several videos of the rescue and the animal’s release have been shared across social media, drawing steady interest from viewers.
The wandering marine mammal, since identified by the SPCA as a southern elephant seal, grabbed national attention yesterday when reports emerged of the animal on the move along Sir Lowry’s Pass Road. Videos of the unusual sighting spread like a fast-moving tide.
Elephant Seal Surprise in Gordon’s Bay
SPCA Inspectors are currently on site in Sir Lowry’s Pass Road, where a rather unexpected visitor — an Elephant Seal — has found its way into a residential area.
They’re actively working on a safe and stress-free plan to relocate this… pic.twitter.com/pCYgPzY4Yq
— alexlansdowne (@alexlansdowne) May 27, 2025
Within minutes of being reported, SPCA inspectors made their way to the area, and the rescue mission was put in motion.
Timeline of events:
- Call came in at 06:20
- Cape of Good Hope SPCA arrived at 07:00 and assessed the situation
- Law enforcement, traffic services, SAPS, Gordon’s Bay Security and Gordon’s Bay Medical Ambulance Services secured the area and redirected traffic
- 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 stepped in
- Wildlife veterinarian sedated the animal
- The team undertook the daunting process of loading the animal into the city’s large-game capture trailer
- By late afternoon, the seal was cleared by the veterinarian
- The animal was safely transported to Koggel Bay – approximately 16km away from Sir Lowry’s Pass Road
- Recovery from sedation was closely monitored
- ‘Sea you later’ – rescue complete
Cape of Good Hope SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham, in a post on their website, said: “Wild animals don’t always follow the script, and this seal’s unexpected journey into a residential area created real cause for concern. With so many moving parts — traffic, onlookers, and a massive marine mammal in distress — it took rapid co-ordination and clear focus to keep everyone safe.”
The post added that encounters with these magnificent animals on our shores are uncommon, usually limited to solitary, often juvenile, males seeking a brief respite or a place to shed their old coats.
She concluded: “We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who stepped up today — for their professionalism, their compassion, and their quick response to an animal in distress.”
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