People should stay clear of an elephant seal that came ashore at Blouberg Beach in Cape Town, the City said.
|||Cape Town - People should stay clear of an elephant seal that came ashore at Blouberg Beach in Cape Town, the City said on Friday.
“An appeal is made to the general public not to interfere with the mammal, as the sea animal can cause harm to a person,” spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said in a statement.
He said the seal came ashore at Table View on Thursday morning.
“Accordingly to the city's officials, the mammal did not sustain any injuries and is resting,” Solomons-Johannes said.
“The city wishes to advise the general public that this behaviour is normal for seals to come ashore to rest.”
He said the animal had moved along the shoreline between Table View and Blouberg since Thursday.
The oceans and coasts branch of the department of environmental affairs had placed poles and rope in front of the animal to restrict people.
However, several people had managed to cross the barrier.
“The city's law enforcement, as well as nature conservation, is monitoring the site,” Solomons-Johannes said.
“The Cape of Good Hope SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has been alerted to be on standby should the marine mammal suffer any injuries.” - Sapa