An unusual visitor from Antarctica has been spotted along the Cape’s coastline this week. A female crabeater seal, a species seldom seen in South African waters, was initially sighted at Baden Powell Drive and later in the Strand area.
The Two Oceans Aquarium Wildlife Team quickly sprang into action, following reports of the first sightings, launching a collaborative response to ensure the safety of both seal and humans alike.
The Aquarium says this remarkable animal has travelled an estimated 4,500 kilometres from her Antarctic home, journeying even further than the southern elephant seals that have visited our shores in recent years.
Gregg Oelofse, Coastal and Environmental Manager for the City of Cape Town, says the City is very lucky to have these amazing animals visit our shoreline.
“We appeal to all members of the public to please leave them alone, respect their space, and view them from a distance. They don’t need help, food, or water – the best we can do for them is give them peace and space.”
Guidelines for viewing wildlife
Members of the public are urged to follow these important safety rules when encountering seals or other marine wildlife:
- Respect their space by staying at least 20 metres away.
- Observe barriers – remain behind any cordoned-off areas.
- Do not pour water over the seal, as this causes unnecessary stress.
- Minimise noise and movement to keep the environment calm.
- Keep dogs on leashes to prevent unexpected animal interactions.
With Crabeater seals, there is always heightened concern when they are observed ingesting sand. As a species not naturally adapted to South African coastal conditions, such behaviour may reflect stress or disorientation.
Tragically, sand ingestion can lead to serious gastrointestinal complications and has been recognised as a cause of mortality in individual vagrant seal species. There is no immediate concern for this individual seal; however, experts will continue to monitor her for any change in behaviour or condition.
A rare opportunity for learning
Vagrant seals appearing along the Cape coastline underscore the importance of public awareness and established safety protocols for the benefit of both wildlife and people.
This sighting serves as a powerful reminder: Crabeater seals are not just distant Antarctic curiosities. On rare occasions, they appear along our shores, offering a unique opportunity to observe and learn about a species very different from our familiar Cape fur seals.
As a precautionary measure, the team administered a rabies vaccination to the seal. This forms part of a broader seal vaccination study currently being implemented for Cape fur seals and other vagrant seal species, including elephant seals.
Given that crabeater seals travel vast distances and interact with numerous marine species in the Southern Ocean, vaccination is a proactive step to reduce potential disease transmission risks.
The team also flipper tagged the seal for identification purposes.
