Rocky the seal continues ocean adventures
He was released off the continental shelf, 25 nautical miles from Gqeberha.
In October last year, Rocky, a young southern elephant seal showed up on the mid-South Coast on Rocky Bay beach.
He opted to stay a little longer than usual on the beach and concerned community members kept a close eye on him.
He was then relocated by the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) to a quieter beach within a Marine Protected Area to rest before getting back in the water, but shortly after heading out to sea again, he appeared on yet another beach.
SAAMBR took him to the uShaka Sea World rehabilitation facility, where they did further tests and allowed him to recover for the past few months.
SAAMBR announced yesterday (March 5) that he has now returned to the ocean to continue his adventures.
On Sunday, he was prepped for release and hoisted onto a vessel bound for Cape Town, and he was reintroduced to the ocean, off the continental shelf 25 nautical miles from Gqeberha.
Rocky has been fitted with a satellite tag courtesy of the Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Faculty of Health Services, University of Pretoria.
His tracking movements will be of special interest to the National Rabies Advisory Group, and other scientists.
As per SAAMBR, it is important to identify the movements of vagrant seals such as Rocky, as these animals, should they ever become infected, can pose a serious risk to other wild seals, in other parts of the world. Understanding what those risks are, and how they can be eliminated, or at least minimised, will improve how they can protect them from such dangerous infections.
“Rocky was one of the most endearing seals I have had the privilege of caring for,” said assistant curator, mammal and birds, Bilal Limbada.
“His huge eyes and unassuming nature melted the hearts of not only the staff who cared for him, but literally everyone who for one reason or another found themselves staring into his soulful eyes.”
The seal will be missed by all who had their hearts stolen by him during his KZN stay.
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