Mellow ‘Jello’ seen basking in KZN sunshine
NICKNAMED “Jello”, a young southern male elephant seal has been taking some time out for the winter holidays like everyone else in the country – sunning on a KZN beach.
Jello was spotted yesterday morning on a Southbroom beach.
He first made his way on to a beach near Port Shepstone last Tuesday, to the amazement of beachgoers. Since then, marine experts from uShaka Marine World have been monitoring the seal’s appearances.
Yesterday Ann Kunz, spokesperson for uShaka Marine World, said it was unusual for elephant seals to come ashore on South African beaches. Only 10 have been recorded along the KZN coastline in 40 years.
“He came on to a beach at Southbroom yesterday where he stayed overnight. He slipped back into the water in the early hours and has been hanging around behind the backline. He looks really good,” said Kunz.
Because Jello appears to be in booming health, weighing in at an estimated 150kg, the uShaka animal health team and the KZN Stranding Network have left him to rest on the beach. A previous elephant seal, Selso, who appeared two years ago, had to be taken in for rehabilitation because he was in poor condition and had to be nursed back to health.
“Selso was in rehabilitation for nine months before being released. He was tagged, so we could follow his movements and he went down as far as the ice of the Antarctic.”
Elephant seals are normally found in the sub-Antarctic waters, close to Prince Edward and Marion islands, so why Jello is visiting the east coast is being questioned by marine scientists. “Elephant seals come ashore to moult or mate. Jello is not moulting and he is too young to mate.
“If elephant seals come out of the water along the KZN coast, they do tend to come out at Southbroom. It seems Jello is finding it leisurely on the South Coast,” said Kunz.
Should Jello start moulting, it will take from 11 days to a month to complete, during which time he will spend long hours on the beach, only returning to the water to cool off or enjoy a fishy snack.
The seal will remain under protection with members of the SPCA, SAPS Search & Rescue, Southbroom Conservancy, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Honorary Officers and Wildlife staff, KZN Sharks Board, Wolf Security and various individuals having set up 24-hour “seal watch”.
The public are asked not to approach him, but should they spot him, please contact uShaka Sea World on 031 328 8222 (24-hour line).