Elephant Seal BACK on land – this time in Simon's Town
Cape Town's now favourite blubbery visitor has hauled out again - this time at the Naval Base in Simon's Town. Image: Facebook @CapeofGoodHopeSPCA
Cape Town's now favourite blubbery visitor has hauled out again – this time at the Naval Base in Simon's Town.
The SPCA has confirmed that the Southern elephant seal – unofficially named Gordy – is currently safe and secure in a location where he cannot access any roads, and there's no immediate risk to his well-being.
A SPCA inspector and City of Cape Town officials are on scene, keeping a close eye on him.
For now, he's simply resting, which is completely normal behaviour.
The SPCA will continue to monitor him closely and are ready to step in if he shows any sign of distress or needs help.
BACK STORY
It's not every day that a Southern elephant seal makes an appearance in a residential neighbourhood, but that's exactly what happened in Gordon's Bay when a sub-adult male was discovered lounging alongside Sir Lowry's Pass Road, nearly one kilometre inland.
The call came in at 06:20 and by 07:00, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA had arrived to assess the situation.
What followed was a nearly nine-hour rescue operation involving a well-coordinated effort across multiple agencies to ensure the sub-adult male's safety and eventual return to a more suitable coastal environment.
From seaside to suburbia
Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) are the world's largest seal species and are usually found in sub-Antarctic regions.
While sightings in South Africa are rare, occasional lone individuals, typically young males, do haul out along our coastline during moulting or rest phases.
But making it inland and into a neighbourhood is, by all accounts, highly unusual.
'Wild animals don't always follow the script, and this seal's unexpected journey into a residential area created real cause for concern,' said Belinda Abraham, Spokesperson for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.
'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'.
A safe return to the sea
While the seal appeared to be unharmed, his urban detour posed risks – both to himself and to motorists.
With the assistance of the Law Enforcement, Traffic Services, SAPS, Gordon's Bay Security and Gordon's Bay Medical Ambulance Services, the area was secured and traffic redirected while the SPCA, City of Cape Town's Coastal Management and Marine Unit, SANParks, Two Oceans Aquarium, Shark Spotters and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) stepped in.
The SPCA monitored the seal's welfare throughout the incident, including during sedation by a wildlife veterinarian and the difficult process of loading the animal into the City's large game capture trailer.
By late afternoon, the seal had been given the all clear by the veterinarian and safely transported to Koggel Bay, where his recovery from sedation was monitored before our team left the site.
A community effort
'It truly takes a village says Abraham. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who stepped up today – for their professionalism, their compassion, and their quick response to an animal in distress.'
Residents who encounter wildlife in urban spaces are reminded not to approach, feed, or attempt to assist the animals, but rather to contact the Cape of Good Hope SPCA for assistance.
The number to dial is 0217004158/9, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What's the strangest thing you've seen in your street?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
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The Citizen
3 days ago
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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!
The Citizen
4 days ago
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Watch: Meme-worthy seal ‘Gordy' sparks buzz after Simon's Town visit
The appearance of a southern elephant seal at the naval base in Simon's Town – two 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 suggests that elephant seals come ashore to shed their skin annually. A question accompanied the comment: Is this seal not trying to stay on land to do just that? The SPCA, which assisted with the nearly nine-hour rescue operation to return the seal (who has since been dubbed 'Gordy') to the sea on Tuesday, responded: 'Exactly! Gordy likely came ashore to moult, 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 was so determined to have a stroll. However, judging by the love spread on social media, his land adventures will always be welcomed. In true South African fashion, memes, clever comments (like Shudley Daniels asking on Facebook if he is now a 'navy seal') and quirky adverts have since popped up across social media. 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!
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5 days ago
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Elephant Seal BACK on land – this time in Simon's Town
Cape Town's now favourite blubbery visitor has hauled out again - this time at the Naval Base in Simon's Town. Image: Facebook @CapeofGoodHopeSPCA Cape Town's now favourite blubbery visitor has hauled out again – this time at the Naval Base in Simon's Town. The SPCA has confirmed that the Southern elephant seal – unofficially named Gordy – is currently safe and secure in a location where he cannot access any roads, and there's no immediate risk to his well-being. A SPCA inspector and City of Cape Town officials are on scene, keeping a close eye on him. For now, he's simply resting, which is completely normal behaviour. The SPCA will continue to monitor him closely and are ready to step in if he shows any sign of distress or needs help. BACK STORY It's not every day that a Southern elephant seal makes an appearance in a residential neighbourhood, but that's exactly what happened in Gordon's Bay when a sub-adult male was discovered lounging alongside Sir Lowry's Pass Road, nearly one kilometre inland. The call came in at 06:20 and by 07:00, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA had arrived to assess the situation. What followed was a nearly nine-hour rescue operation involving a well-coordinated effort across multiple agencies to ensure the sub-adult male's safety and eventual return to a more suitable coastal environment. From seaside to suburbia Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) are the world's largest seal species and are usually found in sub-Antarctic regions. While sightings in South Africa are rare, occasional lone individuals, typically young males, do haul out along our coastline during moulting or rest phases. But making it inland and into a neighbourhood is, by all accounts, highly unusual. 'Wild animals don't always follow the script, and this seal's unexpected journey into a residential area created real cause for concern,' said Belinda Abraham, Spokesperson for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. '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'. A safe return to the sea While the seal appeared to be unharmed, his urban detour posed risks – both to himself and to motorists. With the assistance of the Law Enforcement, Traffic Services, SAPS, Gordon's Bay Security and Gordon's Bay Medical Ambulance Services, the area was secured and traffic redirected while the SPCA, City of Cape Town's Coastal Management and Marine Unit, SANParks, Two Oceans Aquarium, Shark Spotters and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) stepped in. The SPCA monitored the seal's welfare throughout the incident, including during sedation by a wildlife veterinarian and the difficult process of loading the animal into the City's large game capture trailer. By late afternoon, the seal had been given the all clear by the veterinarian and safely transported to Koggel Bay, where his recovery from sedation was monitored before our team left the site. A community effort 'It truly takes a village says Abraham. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who stepped up today – for their professionalism, their compassion, and their quick response to an animal in distress.' Residents who encounter wildlife in urban spaces are reminded not to approach, feed, or attempt to assist the animals, but rather to contact the Cape of Good Hope SPCA for assistance. The number to dial is 0217004158/9, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What's the strangest thing you've seen in your street? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
