The seal sustained a severe neck wound after becoming entangled in plastic waste.
Image: SUPPLIED
An injured Cape fur seal found entangled in plastic waste at Hout Bay Harbour has been successfully freed following a coordinated rescue effort.
The Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre (HBSRC) said the animal was first sighted on Saturday, March 21, with a plastic box tie tightly embedded around its neck, causing a serious injury.
Speaking to Sentinel News on Monday, HBSRC spokesperson Kim Krynauw described the severity of the wound: “This was one of the worst injuries we have seen in a long time. The seal had a huge open gash at the back of the neck caused by human rubbish.”
Initial rescue efforts on Sunday, March 22, conducted with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and the Two Oceans Aquarium, were unsuccessful after the animal could not be located.
However, Ms Krynauw confirmed the seal was found and disentangled on Monday morning.
“The team successfully freed the animal. The ocean should help heal the wound, and seals are incredibly tough. It should make a full recovery, although a visible scar is expected."
She said that entanglement incidents remain a persistent problem. “It happens all the time. It is an ongoing issue, with fishing vessels entering the harbour and discarding rubbish overboard.”
Ms Krynauw said that rescue operations follow a strict process.
“We secure the animal, place it in a box, and transport it to a vet for assessment. Thereafter, it goes into isolation for between five and 10 days.”
Public interference, however, continues to pose serious challenges, she said.
“People do not leave the animal alone. They try to drag it back into the water or pour water over it. Dogs are not kept on leads, and crowds gather around the seal. This causes extreme stress and can ultimately lead to the animal’s death,” she said.
Authorities have reiterated that members of the public should keep a safe distance and avoid attempting to assist.
Even when seals appear healthy, they should be left undisturbed, as they often come ashore simply to rest.
She urged the community to take greater responsibility: “Our environment is in peril. Our oceans are filled with human waste and pollution, which impacts marine life. People need to realise that we are destroying our oceans, and without them, we will all perish.”
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