Selso is home
The young southern elephant seal found in Southbroom last year is doing well.
AFTER a year-long odyssey Selso, the young southern elephant seal that washed up at Southbroom in June last year, has at last reached his home.
On June 30, almost exactly a year after he was rescued, exhausted and starving, and taken to uShaka Sea World rehabilitation centre, the plucky survivor reached Marion Island.
Southern elephant seals normally inhabit the Southern Ocean and Marion Island, 2 200km south of South Africa is their closest island colony site. It was therefore unusual for the young seal to strand on the KwaZulu-Natal coast.
Once released, it took no more than two days for him to get his bearings and head in the right direction. His epic journey took him steadily southwards covering a distance of over 8 000 kilometres in just less than six months.
Selso, like all southern elephant seals, spends his life at sea except when breeding and moulting. His southward journey included spending time in areas known to be good feeding grounds. By June he had almost reached the Antarctic ice shelf but, thankfully, did not remain there long before turning around and heading northwards.
He continued his northward journey and on the June 30 reached Marion Island. His satellite transmitter indicated his location on the south side of the island and researchers were sent to assess his condition. They had good news to report. He was in excellent condition and was enjoying a well deserved rest among the boulders.
