Local seal's cheeky behaviour amuses thousands of Aussies: 'Mind of his own'
As Aussies spend their Easter weekend lolling on the shorelines of beaches and rivers across the country, one town is attempting to lure even more visitors with its colourful local mascot — Sammy the seal.
Several videos of the playful creature frolicking in the water under Windang Bridge have been making the rounds online this week as residents in Shellharbour push for the coastal city to be named NSW's Top Tourism Town.
In the footage, Sammy can be seen performing his — or her — trademark move of lying upside-down with their flippers in the air, amusing locals and travellers, some of which said they hoped to catch a glimpse of the 'beautiful' seal when they stop by.
'He's definitely got a mind of his own,' Bec Dunning, from SUP Shellharbour, told Yahoo News. 'We pretty much go past him almost every day.'
Dunning, who spotted Sammy once again on Wednesday 'wagging his tail' at her and a customer while 'hiding' behind one of the bridge's concrete pylons, explained the seal has been living in the area 'for years'.
'A lot of the residents say that he's always been here. We've had up to three seals underneath, and recently it's just been the one,' she said. 'They do those little barrel rolls. We sort of wonder if they're using the pylons on the bridge for a bit of a massage.'
There are also often 'lots of fish' that Sammy likely snacks on throughout the day.
Speaking to Yahoo, Sea World Curator of Animal Welfare and Operations, Mitchell Leroy, explained that Sammy's adorable upside-down manoeuvre is called 'sailing' and is a 'way for the animal to thermoregulate'.
'Meaning that they use the flippers above the water to either cool down or in most cases warm up. This means they don't have to get out of the water just to stay warm,' he said.
Leroy added that it is 'quite common' for seals to inhabit locations for periods of time. 'There are many who move away during the year for different life stages, such as breeding season, only to return to the locations where they spend other times such as winter.
'It is most likely dependent on prior learning and success in behaviours such as successful hunting, predator avoidance or mate selection.'
🩸 Camper's gruesome injuries lead to warning ahead of Easter holidays
🐬 Sad sight off Aussie coast prompts 'hundreds' of worried calls
☀️ Easter long weekend weather forecast across every Aussie state
Dunning told Yahoo that Sammy can sometimes 'gets a little scared', especially if there are jet skis around or construction on the bridge.
'But generally we can go under there, chill out for a little bit, have a good look at him and then move on and see him on the way back as well,' she said.
'Once I came through with a couple of guests, and couldn't see him, and then all of a sudden he popped up behind us, had a look like a little Meerkat, and sort of followed me for a little bit, and then pushed away, and went swimming off somewhere else,' the local added, laughing about the seal's cheeky antics.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Wildfire warnings issued in the Canary Islands as millions prepare to holiday there
As millions of holidaymakers prepare to head to the Canary Islands this summer, authorities have issued a wildfire pre-alert across the archipelago. The warning, announced by the General Directorate of Emergencies on Sunday, applies to tourist hotspots El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. It comes as the islands enter a high-risk fire period following the wet season, as hot, dry winds known as the 'calima' begin blowing in from the Sahara Desert. The risk of wildfire is nothing new for the Canary Islands. The volcanic terrain, Mediterranean climate and fire-adapted vegetation - plants that have evolved to thrive in fire-prone environments - make them susceptible to summer blazes, and scientists say wildfires are part of the archipelago's ecological rhythm. Some of the worst occurred in 2023, when forest fires ravaged Tenerife, destroying more than 15,000 hectares of land and forcing 12,000 people to evacuate. The blaze was later found to have been started by arsonists. This year, officials are urging tourists and locals alike to take extreme caution, warning against launching fireworks near forests and discarding cigarettes on dry ground. Related You'll need to book via app to visit these spectacular beaches in Sardinia this summer Greece boosts firefighter and drone numbers to tackle growing risk of wildfires But even as the fire warnings roll in, the Canaries' appeal shows no signs of slowing down. In 2024, the islands welcomed nearly 18 million tourists, including a record-breaking 15.5 million international arrivals. Among them, British travellers led the way, recording 6.3 million visits – up 500,000 from 2023. While the Canary Islands continue to attract record numbers of tourists, residents are increasingly voicing concerns about overtourism. In April 2024, tens of thousands of islanders participated in protests, holding signs that read 'the Canary Islands have a limit' while rallying against rising housing costs, environmental damage and the strain on public services. Over Easter this year, about 80,000 hospitality workers in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro walked out in a dispute with unions over pay. The surge in short-term rentals has been especially contentious. Locals have reported getting priced out of their neighbourhoods as properties are converted into holiday lets, the cost of living soars and wages stagnate. Despite these concerns, tourism remains a significant part of the Canary Islands' economy, accounting for approximately 35 per cent of its GDP. After welcoming seven million tourists in 2024, Tenerife remains the most visited island. Its year-round sunshine and wide beaches keep it a firm favourite among families, especially during the UK's summer school break and throughout the winter months. Related Svalbard, Chios, El Hierro: How these European islands have successfully avoided overtourism Is it safe to travel to Lanzarote? Latest advice after Storm Olivier sweeps through Canary Islands As the peak summer season picks up, local tourism boards have made no indication that the fire pre-alerts will disrupt travel plans. But authorities remain focused on prevention this year. More than 2,000 firefighters are on standby. Meanwhile, the government has distributed detailed safety advice, urging people to prepare a go-bag, stay informed and follow emergency evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions if fires erupt.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Gatwick Airport baggage handler dispute resolved
A dispute between Gatwick Airport baggage handlers and their bosses which resulted in industrial action in April has been resolved. More than 100 baggage handlers, check-in and flight dispatching staff from Red Handling had gone on strike for four days across Easter in a row over pensions and working conditions. Strike action on 18 and 25 May and 1 June was suspended because of the negotiations, which have now concluded. A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport said they were pleased an agreement had been reached. The Red Handling workers, who are members of the Unite union, said the dispute was over "long-standing issues" with pensions, including having contributions not paid and plans not set up. Staff had also complained of being overworked and not having proper breaks between shifts, but had since agreed on new working terms which included receiving overtime pay and having guarantees about time off, Unite said. Ben Davis, the union's regional officer, said: "The situation with pensions, late wages and a lack of breaks was taking a big toll on our members and they are glad this has now been resolved." Red Handling has been contacted for a comment. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Gatwick downplays effect of Easter strikes EasyJet to run full service despite Gatwick strike Gatwick strike called off but disruption looms Gatwick Airport Unite the Union Red Handling
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Elizabeth Smart's 3 Kids: All About Chloé, James and Olivia (and What They Know About Their Mother's Horrific Kidnapping)
Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped on June 5, 2002, from her family's home in Salt Lake City A little under a decade after being rescued, she married her husband, Matthew Gilmour, and the two welcomed three children together As they've grown older, Smart has opened up to her children about her harrowing experienceThere was a time in Elizabeth Smart's life when she didn't know if she would ever be married or have a family. The author and activist was just a teenager when she was abducted from her bedroom at her family's Salt Lake City home on June 5, 2002. She was held captive and abused for nine months before she was eventually recognized and rescued. Over the past two decades, she has worked to overcome the harrowing experience, marrying her husband, Matthew Gilmour, in 2012 and welcoming three children: Chloé, 10, James, 8, and Olivia, 6. 'My children have brought so much happiness and joy. To me, they're the very definition of love,' she told PEOPLE in 2017. Although she loves her role as a mother, Smart admits that she's more overprotective than most, struggling to find a balance between letting her little ones be adventurous and wondering if they're safe. 'There's a part of me that's always thinking, 'Are the windows shut? Where is she at? Who is by her? Can I see her?' I don't want to let Chloé out of my sight,' Smart told PEOPLE when Chloé was just a toddler. 'I will never regret being there for my children, watching them, making sure they'll be okay. But I might regret not being there for them.' Now that they're older, Smart has shared some of her personal story with her kids, explaining that it's why she's so protective — and hoping she can instill in them lessons that will always keep them safe. Here's everything to know about Elizabeth Smart's three children, Chloé, James and Olivia. In 2012, Smart and Gilmour tied the knot in a ceremony in Hawaii after a year of dating. The couple, who met when they were both doing Mormon mission work in Paris, opted for a secret destination with only family members in attendance. Shortly after, Smart shared that children were definitely in the couple's future and that her 'greatest aspiration' was to be a mom. 'I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my mom,' she told PEOPLE in 2014. 'My mom is a hero and has influenced my life more than any other person, and I'd like to have that same influence on my children.' The following year, the couple welcomed their first child, Chloé, on Feb. 7, 2015. Two years later, Smart announced that she was expecting once again, sharing the news in a sweet family photo from Halloween in which her costume featured a baby skeleton graphic on her belly. James was born several months later in April 2017, with the couple sharing news of his arrival in an Easter snapshot of Chloé cuddling her baby brother. At the time, Smart's father, Edward, told PEOPLE that his daughter was 'extremely happy' to be a new mom again. Smart and Gilmour rounded out their family a year later with the birth of their youngest child, Olivia, who was born in November 2018. As her children have gotten older, Smart has opened up about parts of her terrifying kidnapping ordeal. Her older daughter, Chloé, began asking questions when she was just 5 years old, and Smart has been thoughtful in her answers. 'With all my children, really, I certainly never want to hide what happened in the past, because every single one of us has a past,' she shared in an interview with E! News in 2021. She continued, 'Every single one of us has had something happen in our lives. It's unrealistic to think that we will all just have a perfect life. We will all face hardships and struggles, in whatever form that may be, and so I have begun to speak to her as she asked questions. But with that being said, it's not all at once. And it's age-appropriate, to the best of my ability.' Several years later, Smart shared that all three of her children knew about the kidnapping but 'not in extreme detail." 'They could tell you the overarching story of what happened, but they couldn't tell you details," Smart told PEOPLE in June 2024. 'Now it's to a point that I just say, 'If and when you want to talk about it more, we can.' And they seem pretty content with where they're at right now. And I guess I'll just take it day by day as it comes.' Given her past, Smart is admittedly quite protective of her children and feels that the worry for their safety is 'never-ending.' Although she says she doesn't want them to grow up in fear because of her past, she does want them to 'be aware of the world' and 'be aware of what can happen.' 'I don't want them to put other people's feelings or emotions over their own safety. I want them to know that their safety is more important to me than worrying about offending someone else,' she told PEOPLE in 2024. She added, 'I felt like when they were born, my heart just decided to take up residence in my throat. It probably definitely makes me a little bit more on the paranoid side of things. And those times that the paranoia comes out, I usually ask them, 'Do you know why I'm the way I am?' And my little boy will be like, 'Yes, you don't want us to get hurt. You want to keep us safe?' I'm like, 'Okay, then don't do that.' ' Smart and Gilmour spend a lot of time outdoors with their family, as nature is a place that Smart says has provided her with a lot of healing. Riding horses has been particularly 'therapeutic' for Smart and her children have been riding with her since they were toddlers. 'Riding has always been therapeutic for me, so naturally I'm thrilled that Chloé loves riding! It's not that often these days that we get to go but what are the holidays for otherwise?!' Smart wrote on Instagram in 2017. Since welcoming her three children, Smart has considered them her greatest blessings. On social media, she has frequently gushed about her daughters and son, writing in March 2020 that she is always 'grateful for the chance they gave me to be their mother.' 'I don't remember who I heard say it or where I read it but it has stuck with me always. 'There are 3 types of angels, those who came before, those who come after, and those who walk along side us,' " Smart wrote on Instagram on Mother's Day in 2024. She continued, "As each of my children have been born I have strongly felt that they were angels straight from heaven. I will never stop loving them with all my heart and being grateful to be their mother." Read the original article on People
