WATCH: 9-hour operation to return stranded seal

After an eventful Tuesday morning cruising the streets of Gordon’s Bay in the Western Cape, the southern elephant seal that visited town was successfully returned to sea.

The nearly nine-hour operation was led by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA together with other local agencies.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Elephant seal pays surprise visit to residential area

“Wild animals don’t always follow the script, and this seal’s unexpected journey into a residential area created real cause for concern,” said Cape of Good Hope SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham.

“With so many moving parts — traffic, onlookers, and a massive marine mammal in distress — it took rapid coordination and clear focus to keep everyone safe.”

The SPCA reportedly monitored the seal’s welfare throughout the incident, including during sedation by a wildlife veterinarian and the process of loading it onto a large game capture trailer.

It was later safely transported to Koggel Bay, where it was released.

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