Cape Town, South Africa (AP) — A sizable elephant seal caused quite a stir by wandering through the streets of a coastal town in South Africa early Tuesday, prompting locals to spring into action for its rescue back to the ocean.
The two-ton juvenile seal was making its way through the outskirts of Gordon Bay, situated near Cape Town.
Residents stepped outside to film the unusual sight.
“This is unbelievable. Hey there, how did you end up here?” one woman inquired.
Members of the Animal Cruelty Prevention Association (SPCA) observe an elephant seal on the streets of Gordon Bay near Cape Town, South Africa on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Authorities and local security teams tried to contain the seal by maneuvering a police car around it. The seal rested its massive head on one car’s hood, then proceeded to slide across the other side of the road and onto the sidewalk.
Eventually, the seal made its way to a shopping center. Animal welfare officials expressed concerns over the seal being too far from the ocean, as it could become exhausted and dehydrated. They estimated its weight to be around 2 tons (4,400 pounds), noting that elephant seals can grow to twice that size.
A team of marine wildlife experts and urban veterinarians sedated the seal and transported him back to his habitat in a nearby bay.
The Good Hope SPCA shared a video on social media, showing the seal making its way down the beach and toward the ocean.
“It’s all about the ocean now,” the caption read.
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AP Africa News: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
Source: apnews.com