A dead Cape Fur seal washed up on Salmon Bay Beach early on Friday morning and experts say it it is unusual for a seal to be found in these waters at this time time of year.
The seal has been identified as a Cape Fur seal and is either a late juvenile or sub-adult. The cause of death is unknown and the unfortunate seal was still relatively fat when discovered.
When the Courier arrived at the scene, life guards on duty had already covered the seal’s body with a space blanket, neatly tucked into the sand to keep the silver blanket from blowing away and exposing the carcass.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife officer Lionel van Schoor said seals “normally follow the sardines and get left behind but we had no sardines this year”.
Environmentalist Simon Bundy also said this Cape Fur seal was a long way out of its usual range. He suspects an inflow of cold water from the Cape may be the why. Bundy said a low pressure system that has been sitting off the coast is the reason for the exceptionally cold water being drawn into the Dolpin Coast waters.
There were reports of a struggling seal on the rocks at Tinley Manor Beach last Monday afternoon. The seal disappeared before it could be rescued. However there is no way of knowing if it was the same seal.
Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.
Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.
