Taking comfort on the back end of a large boat, this seal celebrates the second chance it got in life, thanks to the heroes who removed a plastic entanglement from its neck two years ago.
South Africa (03 June 2025) – Every so often, nature gives us a moment that reminds us exactly why the work matters. For the dedicated Marine Wildlife Management Team from the Two Oceans Aquarium, that moment came in the shape of a sleek, familiar face lounging on a warm, sunny spot in the harbour.
In October 2022, a Cape fur seal was rescued from a potentially fatal entanglement; it had a deep, painful plastic entanglement cutting into its neck. The team carefully cut away the plastic and treated the animal, removing the entanglement and tagging it with a yellow flipper tag marked 0091 in the hope that the intervention would offer the young seal a real shot at survival.
And survive, it did.
Last year, the same seal was spotted in the very waters where its journey to healing began. And now, in 2025, it’s been seen again! Thriving, strong, and moving with ease through its ocean home. The scar around its neck remains a quiet marker of what it’s overcome and a reminder of the power of timely, compassionate action.
“This is a shining example of how targeted intervention can give marine wildlife a second chance.” – Martine Viljone, Marine Wildlife Management Team
Marine entanglement is a growing threat to sea life across our coastline, but this story proves just how impactful targeted rescue can be. It’s a small victory in the grand scheme of conservation, but for seal 0091, it’s life-changing.
And for all of us? It’s a symbol of hope, resilience, and the healing that happens when humans choose to step in and help.
You can follow the work the team does (they regularly share amazing disentanglement videos) via the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation Facebook page here.
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