An enormous elephant seal romped through Gordon’s Bay, South Africa, bringing traffic to a standstill and shocking passersby.
In a video that has been circulating this week, the enormous seal waddles up to a car and rests its chin on the bonnet briefly before hauling itself away across the pavement.
“No way,” one of the onlookers can be heard gasping as they back up to get out of the way of the huge animal.
“A rather unexpected visitor – an elephant seal – has found its way into a residential area,” SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham told News24.
It took almost nine hours for rescue experts to relocate the young southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) to “a more suitable coastal environment,” according to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.
“Wild animals don’t always follow the script, and this seal’s unexpected journey into a residential area created real cause for concern,” says Abraham. “With so many moving parts – traffic, onlookers, and a massive marine mammal in distress – it took rapid coordination and clear focus to keep everyone safe”.
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Thankfully, after his short holiday to Gordon’s Bay – nearly one kilometre inland – the seal is now back at the coastline where he belongs.
“It truly takes a village,” says Abraham. “We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who stepped up today –for their professionalism, their compassion, and their quick response to an animal in distress.”
Main image: southern elephant seal (not the individual rescued in Gordon's Bay. Credit: Getty
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