Seals are wild animals; public should not feed, touch them
11 October 2021
The City of Cape Town wants to remind the public that seals are wild animals. They are not to be fed, neither should anyone try to approach or touch them.
The City was informed of an incident on Strand Beach on Saturday, 9 October 2021, where a teenager was bitten by a seal.
It was reported that a group of teenagers swam up to the seal to try and touch it and subsequently, one of the teenagers was bitten. The teenager received medical treatment shortly after.
The seal involved in the incident is now being monitored by the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs (NDFFE). The monitoring is needed because the seal has become used to people due to various groups feeding it fish at Harbour Island and the Gordon’s Bay Harbour.
The public is reminded that:
seals are wild animals and should not be approached, or touched
feeding wild animals habituate them to people which is harmful to the animal, as well as the public
no one should feed a seal
seals in general do not pose a threat to people if left alone and not harassed
respecting wild life and giving them adequate space will ensure that we can share the natural environment with them
should a seal approach you, you are advised to simply back away slowly and leave the animal alone
The NDFFE and the City will continue to work together, along with other partners to find a positive solution for this particular habituated seal.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
