Blue, the Rescued Cape Fur Seal, Finds Freedom in the Ocean Once Again

I’m excited to share with you the incredible story of Blue, a brave and determined Cape fur seal who has been given a second chance at life thanks to the dedicated team at the SPCA. Blue was in a tough spot, dealing with both physical and emotional challenges. But with the help of the SPCA, he was able to heal and return to his natural habitat – the vast, beautiful ocean.

A blue seal was spotted outside of her transport container. Take a look at the picture! It’s such a cute sight! The SPCA Chief inspector, Jaco Pieterse, heard the call for help and immediately sprang into action. He even canceled his dinner plans to attend to the emergency. What a dedicated person!

Upon further examination, Jaco determined that the seal was underweight and had a nasty gash on its right elbow. It looked like the gash was caused by an embedded fishing hook. Poor seal! Jaco quickly got to work, loading the seal, which weighed more than 80 kg, into a specially designed box for transportation to the SPCA Animal Hospital. The seal needed emergency care, and Jaco was determined to make sure it received the help it needed.

During the rescue operation, I took care of Blue by feeding her a diet rich in protein. I made sure she had plenty of time to rest and recover, and I cleaned her wound twice a day. It was quite a challenge because Blue was cautious around humans and her large size made it even more complicated to handle her. But over time, she started to trust us and realized that we were only trying to help.

After five days, I noticed that Blue seemed a bit down. She kept looking towards the ocean from her enclosure, and I knew it was time to let her go back home. Seals can get depressed if they’re separated from their colony for too long, so I knew it was the right thing to do.

Getting a big and tired seal into a transport container isn’t an easy thing to do, the SPCA says. They’ll fight until the very end against anything that might take away their freedom. It takes a team of six or seven strong and patient individuals who understand seal behavior to get the job done. After about 40 minutes of gently coaxing, pleading, and tempting with fish, Blue was safely placed inside the transport box and started her journey home.

The Wildlife team chose a secluded beach not too far from where Blue was found. They picked a spot with shallow rock pools that would give her the right amount of hiding spots and confidence to explore deeper waters when she was ready.

As the door to my container swung open, a powerful sea breeze rushed in, filling the air with its salty scent. Without hesitation, I propelled myself out onto the beach, savoring the newfound freedom and relishing in the touch of the sand beneath my flippers. The SPCA wildlife team, who had been diligently caring for me throughout this journey, watched with joy and satisfaction as I basked in the warmth of the sun and prepared to return to the water.

These moments, as simple as they may seem, are what make it all worthwhile for the dedicated individuals who have worked tirelessly to ensure my well-being and safe release.

‘Here at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA wildlife department, we receive an average of 75 calls each year related to seals. We’re always ready to assist in various situations, whether it’s rescuing seals caught in entanglements, tending to sick seals, or protecting seals from disturbance on public beaches where they seek refuge after long swims.’

Want more travel news, inspiration, and guides? Join us on social media and tag us for a chance to be featured!