News just in: Popular roaming Elephant seal has just arrived at Kalk Bay Harbour!
28 May 2025
Yesterday, 27 May 2025, an adult male Elephant seal was found wandering on Sir Lowry’s Pass Road in Gordon’s Bay.
The seal was barricaded by vehicles at the corner of Avondrust Street and Sir Lowry’s Pass Road. Officials placed a wildlife trailer and attempted to 'walk' the animal into the trailer, but after several attempts, it became clear that this was not going to work. Two attending wildlife veterinarians successfully sedated the animal. Once given the go-ahead by the vets, the animal was carefully rolled onto a stretcher and with a combination of many hands and a well-coordinated effort the almost 1,2 ton animal was carefully and quickly loaded into the trailer without a hitch. The animal's welfare was checked by the vets before travelling to the selected release site at the Steenbras Nature Reserve coastal area along Clarens Drive.
Upon arrival at the release location, the animal was checked and found to be wide awake and alert. The vets then gave the go ahead to open the trailer for release. The Elephant seal made his way out the trailer and onto the beach with no trouble, proceeded across the beach and swam off strongly into the sea. We have just heard that the seal has made his way to the Kalk Bay Harbour and arrived there this morning, 28 May 2025.
'The City would like to thank all the role players who were involved with bringing the seal to safety yesterday. The close collaboration between the City, SPCA and all the parties while dealing with the emergency management of this heavy weight seal ensured a smooth transition into the ocean at Kogel Bay Resort,' said the City's Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
The City of Cape Town's Coastal Management Branch took the lead.
'The City would like to give a special thanks to Coastal Management and Biodiversity Management staff. The Steenbras Nature Reserve and the Conservation Services Unit who played a huge role in the capturing and releasing of the animal. The City’s law enforcement and traffic services officials also assisted enormously. This operation would not have been possible without the support of all parties. We thank them for their efforts and dedication in seeing this vulnerable animal to safety,' said Alderman Andrews.
End Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
