27-05-2025
Massive elephant seal pays Gordon's Bay residents a ‘surprise' visit
An elephant seal has been spotted in a residential area in Gordon's Bay.
The SPCA said it is working on a plan to safely remove the seal.
Residents have been urged to keep their distance.
Gordon's Bay residents woke up to an unexpected visitor in front of their homes on Tuesday morning after an elephant seal took a short trip inland.
The seal was spotted outside homes in Sir Lowry's Pass Road.
SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham confirmed the incident, describing it as a 'surprise'.
'Our SPCA inspectors are currently on-site in Sir Lowry's Pass Road, where a rather unexpected visitor - an elephant seal - has found its way into a residential area,' she said.
'We're actively working on a safe and stress-free plan to relocate this magnificent marine mammal. Please avoid the area to help us give the seal the space and calm it needs while we carry out the rescue.'
According to the Two Ocean's Aquarium, southern elephant seals are the largest of the world's seal species.
Males can grow to lengths of nearly seven metres and weigh as much as five tonnes. Females are much smaller than males, typically reaching three metres in length and weighing up to 900kg.
Elephant Seal Surprise in Gordon's Bay
SPCA Inspectors are currently on site in Sir Lowry's Pass Road, where a rather unexpected visitor — an Elephant Seal — has found its way into a residential area.
They're actively working on a safe and stress-free plan to relocate this…
— alexlansdowne (@alexlansdowne) May 27, 2025
Southern elephant seals have a wide distribution in the Southern Ocean, with the majority of breeding and resting sites on the Subantarctic and Antarctic Islands.
The seals spend up to 85% of each year at sea, only visiting land during breeding, moulting, and winter periods.
Elephant seals regularly come ashore along Cape Town's coastline to moult.
Among the most famous of these is a southern elephant seal named Buffel.
Buffel first appeared in Buffelsbaai in 2016. In the years to follow, Buffel began to reappear on Duiker Island, Fish Hoek Beach, and around Cape Point for his annual moult.
