MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (Smart) are again urging people to avoid seals and remain vigilant, after a seal attacked a local yacht near Seal Island this morning, 25 September.
Kiyana Sailing's skipper, Antonio van der Westhuizen had alerted Smart to an aggressive male seal between Dias Beach and Seal Island, that attacked their boat not once, or twice, but three times.
Van Der Westhuizen told Mossel Bay Advertiser that it was around 11:00 today when he was making his way out to Seal Island, a place he has been many times before.
"I suddenly felt a bump from below the boat, around the propeller area and when I looked around, I saw a seal trying to get onto the boat. His head was mostly on the boat already," he said.
"I accelerated, and then it bit the back of the boat and then kept charging it."
It was just after this when Kiyana Sailing's deckhand, Dillan Roode took a video of it.
This video was taken by Dillan Roode near Seal Island today, 25 September.
Van Der Westhuizen said they finished the trip and then picked up their next clients and saw the seal again. He said this time, it kept its distance.
"I have been around the ocean in Mossel Bay for many years and I have never seen a seal behave this way," he said.
He said he has a strong suspicion that it might have rabies and urged people to remain vigilant and aware around seals.
Smart committee member Val Marsh said that once Van der Westhuizen sent her the video, she shared it with other relevant organisations and networks to make people aware of the situation.
"While we cannot definitely say the seal has rabies without it being tested, it is showing behaviours typical of a rabid seal," said Marsh.
"It is unlikely the seal will strand anywhere and we suspect it may die in the next few hours but we are urging people to stay away from seals and to report any seals behaving aggressively or strangely," she said.
To report any instances of seals or other marine animals in distress or behaving unusually, contact Smart on 072 227 4715 or Dr Greg Hofmeyr, the curator for marine mammals at Bayworld in Gqeberha on 071 724 2122 or Mossel Bay Municipality on 044 606 5000.
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