LOOK: Seal Ya Later, Cape Town! Southern elephant seal safely back at sea after Gordon's Bay 'stroll'
The Southern elephant seal that caused a bit of fun drama in Gordon's Bay this week.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media
A Southern elephant seal's unexpected journey through the streets of Gordon's Bay ended with a successful rescue operation. The seal's short visit caused quite the rukus on the streets of Cape Town with locals rushing to get a view of the giant animal.
Emergency Rescue Operations
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA confirmed that a coordinated rescue effort was launched immediately after the seal was spotted near Sir Lowry's Pass Road around 6am. A team of wildlife and emergency services worked together to ensure the safe return of the seal to its ocean home. Local Reaction
Residents were astonished as they witnessed the large seal moving clumsily along the roads, even pausing at one point to rest on a parked vehicle. Many locals captured videos and photographs of the comical scene unfolding in their neighbourhood.
Coordinated Efforts
By 8am, the SPCA had secured the area with assistance from various organisations, including the City of Cape Town's Marine Unit, SANParks, Two Oceans Aquarium, Shark Spotters, Traffic Services, SAPS, and Gordon's Bay Security and Medical Services. This collaboration highlighted the community's dedication to animal welfare. Successful Relocation
Thanks to the strategic planning and teamwork involved, the elephant seal was successfully sedated and transported back to its natural habitat. SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham expressed gratitude for the community's concern for the seal's welfare, stating, "Animal rescue truly takes a village."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Daily News Milk Fund brings light and love to babies at the Shepherd's Keep home on World Milk Day
THE DAILY NEWS MILK FUNF: Ayanda Mdluli, editor of the Daily News, Sushi Munsamy, Independent Media, Michelle Potgieter, Sameera Kareem, CSI Manager & Project Coordinator at Independent Media and Sarah Pratley sharing some love and celebrating World Milk Day at the Shepherd's Keep home. IN CELEBRATION of World Milk Day, The Daily News Milk Fund paid a heartwarming visit to Shepherd's Keep, a sanctuary on the Bluff, Durban, that has been providing unconditional love and care to orphaned and abandoned babies affected by HIV/AIDS since 1998. Founded by Colin and Cheryl Pratley, the home has been a beacon of hope for the most vulnerable members of society-babies. Currently caring for seven precious babies, Shepherd's Keep relies heavily on community and donor support to sustain its vital work. Their values of unconditional love, integrity, excellence of care, and the unwavering dedication of staff underpins everything they do. To mark the special day, the Daily News Milk Fund delivered much-needed items on the home's wish list, a gesture that brought smiles, tears, and immense gratitude. Ayanda Mdluli, the editor of the Daily News said as a media entity that is connected to communities, the opportunity to make a difference at the Shepherd's Keep home was greatly appreciated. "As the editor of the Daily News, I'm proud to say that our Milk Fund is dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of disadvantaged children. "We've come a long way as a media brand, and one thing that's always been close to our hearts is easing the suffering of vulnerable kids in KwaZulu-Natal. Organisations like Shepard's Keep inspire us to keep doing the right thing for our precious little ones." Sameera Kareem, CSI Manager & Project Coordinator at Independent Media, described the visit as deeply emotional. 'It was an incredibly heartwarming feeling to hand over the much-needed items, knowing the difference it will make to the babies and the home itself,' said Kareem. 'There is so much power in community support and upliftment. It was amazing to spend time with these precious little ones,' she said. Michelle Potgieter, the current director of Shepherd's Keep, was visibly moved. 'Our stock of essential items was running critically low, and we were deeply concerned about how we would manage,' she shared. 'This generous support came at exactly the right time. It is truly a huge relief for me and my team.' As the world celebrated the nourishing gift of milk, the special day served as a reminder that nourishment came in many forms, love, care, and the kindness of strangers being some of the most powerful of all. Please also add the Milk Funds Baking Details should anyone want to donate to the milk fund. This should be on your records. DAILY NEWS
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
From Gordon's Bay to Simon's Town: Elephant seal's travels raise questions
The appearance of a southern elephant seal at the naval base in Simon's Town – days after he was rescued wandering the streets of Gordon's Bay – has led to speculation about why the marine mammal enjoys time on land. A comment on the Cape of Good Hope SPCA Facebook page suggested elephant seals come ashore to shed their skin once a year. The comment was accompanied by a question: Is this seal not trying to stay on land to do just that? The SPCA, who assisted with the nearly nine-hour rescue operation to return the seal (who has since been dubbed 'Gordy) to the sea, responded: 'Exactly! Gordy likely came ashore to molt, which is completely natural — but his location in Gordon's Bay put him at risk from human activity. That's why we stepped in to relocate him safely, so he could continue the process undisturbed.' Watch his Simon's Town visit: As Gordy keeps his lips 'sealed', we'll never know the true reason why this magnificent marine mammal enjoys a stroll off the beach. However, judging by the love spread on social media, his land adventures will always be welcomed. In true South African fashion, memes, sharp comments (like Shudley Daniels asking on Facebook if he is now a 'navy seal') and quirky adverts have since popped into the social media stream. Fidelity ADT posted this image with the caption: 'Let's address the Elephant Seal in the room. You never know what you may encounter on Mzansi's streets but at least you know Fidelity has your back. #FidelityKeepsYouSafe' SJC Security Services joined the action and posted this photo with the caption: ' The seal saga continues… This slippery guy escaped the sea twice and stirred up suburbia like a true seal-lebrity on tour. We weren't called, but like the rest of Mzanzi — we're loving the drama If Gordy goes on a third mission… we'll be ready. Happy Friday Fam! .' Over to you, Nando's! Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
When location matters more than quality housing
The Bottlebrush informal settlement sprung into life in the 1980s, after the floods hit Montford. File picture: Siyanda Mayeza/Independent Media The Bottlebrush informal settlement sprung into life in the 1980s, after the floods hit Montford. File picture: Siyanda Mayeza/Independent Media Image: Siyanda Mayeza/Independent Media TO UNDERSTAND housing policies in practice, one must walk the footpaths of the communities they intend to serve. In my own journey across South Africa, I have visited countless neighborhoods where the grand promises of the Constitution meet the grit of everyday survival. One such place is the Bottlebrush Community in KwaZulu-Natal, an informal settlement tucked behind Crossmoor and Shallcross in Durban's Chatsworth area. Bottlebrush sprang up in the 1980s, when floods displaced people, mainly Indian, in nearby formal townships, and desperate families grabbed a patch of vacant land rather than be shunted to distant government camps. Today, Bottlebrush is a sprawling shantytown of an estimated 19 000+ residents, many drawn from rural South Africa and even neighbouring countries by the magnetic hope of the city. The settlement sits cheek-by-jowl with the formerly established Indian suburbs, a poignant symbol of apartheid's fading geography and with an invisible line separating formal homes from informal homes. As you step off a paved road in Crossmoor onto the dirt road of Bottlebrush, the world changes, you enter a maze of RDP homes, shacks assembled from plastic and election boards, timber off cuts, iron sheets, anything that can keep out the rain. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Previn Vedan at the Crossmoor Transit Camp Image: Supplied Narrow pathways wind through this hill of humanity, some live electrical wires - some illegally connected - dangle perilously overhead and the smell of wood smoke mixes with refuse in the air. Nearby, in the Crossmoor Transit Camp, one of the most ethnically diverse spaces you will find in South Africa, I saw true leadership in a Mozambican national named Paul Manhica. A community once rocked by xenophobic violence, Manhica, married a South African woman and was elected unanimously as the Camp's chairperson. This was not just an act of tolerance, it was a triumph of Ubuntu. His leadership helped bridge divides and reminded me that belonging is about contribution, not birthplace. Walking through Bottlebrush on an early morning, I witness scenes of resilience regardless of hardship. Women walk long distances balancing buckets of water on their heads, collected from communal Jojo tanks located on roadsides, since many shack homes lack running water. Children in crisp school uniforms pick their way around mud puddles, determined to get an education that might one day allow them to move out of here. One young man, Phineas, tells me he came from the Eastern Cape in 2007, lured by relatives who said jobs were plentiful in Durban. Within two weeks, he did find a job at a local mall. This is proof that opportunities do exist in urban hubs. 'I'm happy living here,' he insists. 'My shack is not a palace, but good enough for my needs. Work is nearby, my family back home depends on my earnings'. His words echo a sentiment I hear often; location can matter more than housing quality. Many Bottlebrush residents value being close to jobs and transport over having a larger house in a far off settlement. The once vacant land was invaded under the tenure of a politician who served as the councillor for the area initially as a member of the Minority Front and later under the Democratic Alliance. He said the pursuit of a 'better life' into this land of milk and honey had enticed many to make Bottlebrush home. Paradoxically, even though living conditions are harsh - shack homes get flooded in heavy rains and electricity theft causes frequent fires - people see it as a place of hope, a foothold in the city economy. However, the idyll of informal settlements as a 'promised land' is tempered by stark challenges basic services are a constant struggle; illegal electricity connections - as mentioned - weave a dangerous web, electrocutions and shack fires have occurred and neighbours in formal houses also suffer outages from the now overloaded grid; water tankers service Jojo daily to supplement the trickling standpipes; there is no formal sewage system for part of the settlement, many rely on pit latrines or makeshift toilets; waste removal is infrequent, trash accumulates in piles, attracting rats. These are not just inconveniences, they are daily indignities that erode health and morale. Service delivery protests erupt with depressing frequency, as residents barricade roads and burn tires to demand the basics of modern life. Often the response from the government is a mix of promises and temporary fixes, but the underlying issue is that the hundreds of informal settlements throughout South Africa are still considered 'temporary', even though they are decades old. The government hesitates to fully install infrastructure on land that was originally invaded, fearing it might encourage further land grabs. And indeed, land invasion is part of the DNA of South Africa. Bottlebrush expanded over the years through new waves of occupations. The settlement now covers over 25 000 square metres and has offshoot settlements like the nearby Ekupholeni - which was born when shack dwellers became aware of a government housing development and decided to invade the development site, in the desperate hope of being given preference to the 'to-be-built' homes. Many believe informal settlements are occupied by the destitute and unemployed. My work, particularly during the Covid-19 vaccine outreach, shattered that illusion. I struggled to find people over 60 years old in these communities because most residents are working age individuals. Informal settlements are hubs of mobility, people rent close to industrial areas, stay during the working periods and return home during festive or year end holidays. Poverty, here, is not always about laziness, it is about proximity to opportunity - And this particular point requires an investigation into wage payments from employers, if this investigation is overcome then we must turn to the discussions of a minimum wage versus a living wage. The phenomenon of the 'shack lord' deserves mention. In many informal areas, a few enterprising (or rather exploitative) individuals stake claim to sections of land and then rent out shack homes to others, effectively becoming slumlords in an extra legal property market. In the Lusaka settlement, which is also located in Chatsworth, for example, some who were allocated formal RDP houses in a nearby project simply moved tenants into their old shack homes at about R500 per month.
