On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, a young male elephant seal was found walking through the streets of Gordon’s Bay, a town near Cape Town, South Africa. The animal, weighing about two tons, appeared nearly one kilometer away from the sea. Local police and security staff tried to control the situation by using patrol vehicles, but the seal continued moving until it stopped near a shopping mall. Experts from animal welfare groups warned that the seal, being far from the ocean, could suffer from exhaustion and dehydration. Southern elephant seals usually live in sub-Antarctic areas, and sightings in South African towns are rare, although young males may sometimes visit the coast during molting periods.

A team of marine wildlife specialists and a city veterinarian worked together to rescue the seal. They used sedation to ensure the animal could be moved safely and transported it back to its natural habitat in a nearby bay. The rescue operation took nearly nine hours and involved several groups to protect both the seal and the public. Belinda Abraham, a spokesperson for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, highlighted the importance of careful planning and teamwork in such cases. The SPCA later released a video showing the seal returning to the ocean, confirming the successful outcome of the rescue.