MOSSEL BAY NEWS - About 21 Cape fur seal pups have been returned to Seal Island since 12 December following their rescue by the Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (S.M.A.R.T.) after being stranded along beaches between Hartenbos and Dias.

The first release took place last Thursday afternoon. 

S.M.A.R.T. committee member Val Marsh had said members of the team had spent most of Wednesday, 11 December, attending to various calls from members of the public, alerting them to seal pup strandings.

Each rescued pup was then taken to the Hartenbos Animal Hospital for Dr Frans de Graaff and his team to examine. It was decided the pups were strong enough to be released near Seal Island the following day.

On Thursday afternoon, crew from Aquamarine@Sea, a chartered boat company, took out S.M.A.R.T. volunteers, and a small team from the Hartenbos Animal Hospital to release the pups near the island. 

About 17 of the pups made it to the island, while some returned to the boat and were taken back to the hospital.

Two of the released seal pups.

On Monday, 16 December, S.M.A.R.T. held a debriefing meeting, sharing ideas and discussing ways to improve how the team will rescue stranded marine animals.

Marsh said a major focus this time of year was on helping Cape fur seal pups.

On Tuesday, 17 December, four more seal pups were taken out near Seal Island for release.

Marsh said that following Monday's meeting, the team implemented new strategies to further improve the pups' chances of survival.

Sister Stefanie de Graaff and Dr Frans de Graaff from the Hartenbos Animal Hospital on the day of the first release.

She said that, with the assistance of Esther Jacobs, the conservation manager at Earth Legacy Foundation and co-owner of Salt Life Fishing, the team got much closer to Seal Island, ensuring a smoother release.

Marsh said: "A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this possible. Every step forward means a better future for our marine wildlife."

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