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A stern warning has been issued to beachgoers to keep their distance from wildlife animals when visiting beaches after ongoing public harassment resulted in the death of a washed-up seal.
The incident happened on Strand Beach where an adult seal (named Freddie) was harassed and bit a visitor on Wednesday evening (18 October) after not seeing the animal.
The woman was taken to a local hospital by paramedics where she was treated.
Seals have also been spotted along Melkbosstrand, Sunset Beach and Milnerton Beach recently. The City says the seal displayed normal and expected seal behaviour as it tried to rest on the beach over the last few days.
“However, the seal has had stones and rocks thrown at it, been prodded with sticks, had dogs attack it and many members of the public tease it so that they can take footage of the seal chasing them,” says Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews.
Save a Fishie’s Zoë Prinsloo took to social media to express her outrage.
“When will people learn to respect wild animals and nature?! With the recent death of Freddie the Seal in Strand, will the message finally get through? Freddie was teased, thrown with sticks and rocks, chased by dogs and goodness knows what else? Just because he dared to come onto the beach to rest! Lisa from Helderberg Ocean Awareness Movement and many others from the area did their best to keep him safe but they shouldn’t have to. The ocean and beach belongs first and foremost to our marine animals. When will that sink in? Watch and admire wild life from a distance. Simple,” she says.
The seal died later from excessive stress before being released to a safe location.
Andrews says this is a common outcome when seals are stressed through harassment or capture and is the main reason why the City, the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment and the SPCA do not capture and relocate seals.
