A heartwarming tale of compassion unfolded along the coast of Gqeberha when a family discovered a young seal entangled in a dangerous net.
Gqeberha, South Africa (13 August 2024) – The Zimmerman family came across an agonizing site along the Sacramento Trail, near Schoenmakerskop in Gqeberha when they saw a heavily entangled, young Cape fur seal.
According to Bayworld Museum Marine Mammals, Dave Zimmerman, a wildlife vet working for South African National Parks, knew that the entanglement would slowly and painfully kill the seal unless it was removed.
With quick thinking and selfless action, Dave contacted the Bayworld Museum Marine Mammals team and worked tirelessly with them to free the distressed creature.
By the time Dave made the call, the seal had slipped into the water and disappeared into the waves. Fortunately, he had taken some photos before it vanished.
“When I saw how much net the seal was carrying, I knew that it would be ashore again soon. Despite needing to postpone other commitments, Dave and his family then kindly waited in the area. I wasn’t surprised when he called me 15 minutes later to say that the seal was ashore again,” Greg Hofmeyr of Bayworld Museum Marine Mammals said.
Greg together with an intern Mfundo Kanana soon arrived at the area where they met the seal and the team worked to safely capture the seal to cut through the net that had tangled around the unsettled seal.
“Fortunately, the net had not yet cut into the seal’s skin, but it was wrapped very tightly around its neck. Some slashes with the knife and the seal was soon free,” Greg explained.
Greg further urged the public in the Eastern or Southern Cape to contact the Bayworld Stranding Hotline at 071 724 2122 if they encountered an entangled or otherwise distressed seal, whale, dolphins or turtles and avoid attending to the sea animals themselves.
Sources: Bayworld Museum Marine Mammals
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