The Two Oceans Aquarium has shared their top tips on what to do if you spot a seal pup or it’s mother while on the beaches of the Western Cape.
The Two Oceans Aquarium has posted an urgent announcement on their Facebook page regarding stranded seal pups. They have confirmed that they have received multiple calls from the public regarding seal pups being found on the beach.
Just last week we shared an amazing story about Edward Flipperhands, a rare seal pup that was found and rescued. According to the aquarium, it is unusual for seals to give birth on our beaches. The aquarium shared some background as to why they think seals are giving birth away from their breeding islands.
Seals follow shoals of fish to feed, and sometimes the shoals move closer to our shores and further away from the islands where seals usually give birth – as the shoal moves, so do the seals. Pregnant seals may then find themselves too far from the island to return there before giving birth, and end up having to give birth on our beaches.
Sadly, these seal pups will not survive. It takes three to four days for a mother and pup to form a bond, and if that process is disturbed at all the pup will perish. Even if the bond does manage to form on an urban beach, the mother will be forced to hunt for food after a few days, leaving the pup exposed and alone on the beach. On their breeding islands, pups can be left safely as this is far away from human or predator interference, but here in an urban environment, unfortunately, the pups are too exposed to survive.
The best case scenario is that the mother seal survives this ordeal and returns to her island.
So if you are strolling along the beach and you happen to come across a seal pup, the following tips are the only tips you should keep in mind.
- If you spot a pup or a mother on the beach, do not try to touch the animal – this causes unnecessary stress for these animals during a particularly vulnerable time.
- Contact the Cape of Good Hope SPCA‘s Wildlife Unit on +27 21 700 4140 (office hours) or +27 (0)83 326 1604 (after hours). An inspector will be dispatched to assess the animal and make a decision as to what is in the best interests of the animal.
- Keep dogs and children away from the seal.
- Do not try to move the animal – leave it where it is and disturb it as little as possible.
- Do not pour water on seals on the beach – they will not dry out. All this does is cause unnecessary stress for these animals.
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