There have been no further attacks or strange behaviour among seals in the Western Cape’s Plettenberg Bay area over the past week, following several attacks reported by beach-goers in the week prior.

One incident, in which a man suffered lacerations to his leg after being bitten by a seal near Central Beach, was more severe.

Other reports came from along Robberg beaches. There were also reports of an adult female seal acting strangely – hitting its head on rocks – just before it died.

Marine scientist Dr Gwenith Penry says the seals’ behaviour could be due to them consuming fish carrying a toxin from an algal bloom.

Algal blooms are quite common this time of the year – some of them harmful, others not.

Penry says it has not been confirmed that an algal bloom caused the issues among seals in the area, but that no further incidents have been reported over the past week.

She has taken several water samples and these have gone for testing at Gqeberha facilities in the Eastern Cape. Penry says she hopes to get the results back by the end of the week.

In the meantime, precautionary measures are still in place. These include local lifeguards and shark spotters monitoring the areas for seals ‘overlapping’ with bathers.

The local National Sea Rescue Institute, Bitou Municipality and medical professionals know about the incidents and are ready to assist where necessary.

Local seal diving operators also have strict protocols in place before allowing anyone into the water, including assessing seal behaviour.

Experts reiterated that any seal bites need to be treated by medical professionals.

“There are a lot of bacteria in their teeth and mouths and [bites] require treatment from a medical professional,” says CapeNature’s Chanel Visser.