On Wednesday morning,14 July 2021, a leopard seal came ashore in Kommetjie on the northern section of the beach towards Noordhoek.
Leopard seals primarily inhabit the Antarctic and live on the pack ice, but can also be found on the sub-Antarctic islands. On occasion, individuals arrive on our shoreline and are then scientifically known as ‘vagrant’ leopard seals. When they came ashore in the past, they did not stay long and generally moved off quite quickly.
The animal has been assessed by officials and the SPCA, and is currently not suffering and has no significant injuries. The environmental departments of the City of Cape Town and national government have therefore jointly agreed that the animal will be left alone to move off as and when it decides to. Its movements and health will be monitored.
‘I want to warn members of the public that leopard seals are dangerous animals and we ask that people keep away from it and to especially keep young children and dogs well away from the seal,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.
A Shark Spotter has been deployed to the animal’s location to keep the public informed and to ensure the animal is given the appropriate space.
Source: City Of Cape Town