Sub-Antarctic seal re-released after rehab

AFTER seven months of rehabilitation at uShaka Marine World, Minion, the sub-antarctic fur Seal, was returned to his rightful oceanic home in the early hours of Friday, 2 May.

Minion was taken to uShaka on 28 September 2013 after he was found stranded on a beach in Port Edward, suffering from severe injuries to his flipper and lower back, most likely as the result of a shark bite.

His stay in the rehabilitation centre yielded slow progress at first, but after a few days he started eating well. A few months later, he went from doing little more than lying on the side of the pool to spending most of the day swimming, grooming and strengthening his back muscles.

The well-loved, grumpy seal’s favourite pastime was eating and he made his thoughts known quite loudly when he thought he had not been given enough food. But it was this strong spirit that allowed Minion to heal from his injuries enough for uShaka’s resident veterinarian to give him the all clear for release.

Shortly before sunrise on 2 May, he was released 15 nautical miles from Cape Receife, fitted with a Telonics satellite tag. Minion took to the sea without hesitation and headed south towards the area he is believed to have come from, while his carers bade him farewell and good luck.