He was so far from home …
This week, residents of Gordon’s Bay, South Africa, were stunned to see an enormous visitor lumbering down their suburban street. His massive size literally brought traffic to a halt.
Word quickly spread, and locals alerted the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. The unexpected guest? An elephant seal in need of help.
Southern elephant seals are the largest seals on Earth and among the largest mammals. According to the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, adult males like the one found in Gordon’s Bay can weigh up to 8,800 pounds. These formidable creatures are known for their thick blubber and their coats, which lack any distinctive patterns.
Most southern elephant seals inhabit the Southern Ocean near Antarctica, making this sighting in South Africa—and especially in suburbia—highly unusual.
“While sightings in South Africa are rare, occasional lone individuals, typically young males, do haul out along our coastline during moulting or rest phases,” the Cape of Good Hope SPCA explained in a press release. “But making it inland and into a neighborhood is, by all accounts, highly unusual.”
Knowing they had to act quickly, rescuers faced the challenge of managing traffic, curious onlookers, and a massive marine mammal in distress.
“With so many moving parts—traffic, onlookers, and a massive marine mammal—it took rapid coordination and clear focus to keep everyone safe,” the SPCA said.
Over nine hours, multiple rescue teams collaborated to secure the area and redirect traffic. Wildlife experts sedated the seal and carefully loaded him into a large animal trailer. He was then transported to Koggel Bay for release.
Back where he belonged, the grateful seal slipped out of the trailer and onto the sandy shore. Away from the crowds and flashing lights, he finally relaxed, heading into the ocean’s soothing waves and the familiar serenity of his natural home.