A rare Antarctic visitor to the Cape’s shores – a crabeater seal

By Two Oceans Aquarium

START An unusual visitor from Antarctica has been spotted along the Cape’s coastline this week. A female crabeater seal, a species seldom seen in South African waters, was initially sighted at Baden Powell Drive and later in the Strand area. The Two Oceans Aquarium Wildlife Team was among many organisations to launch a collaborative response to ensure the safety of both seal and humans alike.

This remarkable animal has travelled an estimated 4 500 kilometres from her Antarctic home, journeying even further than the southern elephant seals that have visited our shores in recent years.

“We are so lucky to have these amazing animals visit our shoreline. We appeal to all members of the public to please leave them alone, respect their space, and view them from a distance. They don’t need help, food, or water – the best we can do for them is give them peace and space,” says Gregg Oelofse, Coastal and Environmental Manager for City of Cape Town.

Safety first: Guidelines for viewing wildlife

Members of the public are urged to follow these important safety rules when encountering seals or other marine wildlife:

• Respect their space by staying at least 20 metres away.

• Observe barriers – remain behind any cordoned-off areas.

• Do not pour water over the seal, as this causes unnecessary stress.

• Minimise noise and movement to keep the environment calm.

• Keep dogs on leashes to prevent unexpected animal interactions.

A swift, collaborative response

Following a reported sighting of a crabeater seal along the coastline, Helderberg Ocean Awareness and City of Cape Town officials were prompt to respond. The area was cordoned off to protect both the seal and members of the public, ensuring the animal had adequate space to rest undisturbed.

Subsequently, a coordinated marine wildlife response team comprising Martine Viljoen (Marine Wildlife Manager, Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation), Yinhla Shihlomule (Top predator coordinator), and Zafar Monier (Marion Island sealer) responded to flipper tag and vaccinate the seal.

With Crabeater seals, there is always heightened concern when they are observed ingesting sand. As a species not naturally adapted to South African coastal conditions, such behaviour may reflect stress or disorientation. Tragically, sand ingestion can lead to serious gastrointestinal complications and has been recognised as a cause of mortality in individual vagrant seal species. There is no immediate concern for this individual seal, however experts will continue to monitor her for any change in behaviour or condition.

A rare opportunity for learning

Vagrant seals appearing along the Cape coastline underscore the importance of public awareness and established safety protocols for the benefit of both wildlife and people.

This sighting serves as a powerful reminder: Crabeater seals are not just distant Antarctic curiosities. On rare occasions, they appear along our shores, offering a unique opportunity to observe and learn about a species very different from our familiar Cape fur seals.

Conservation in Action

As a precautionary measure, the team administered a rabies vaccination to the seal. This forms part of a broader seal vaccination study currently being implemented for Cape fur seals and other vagrant seal species, including elephant seals.

Given that crabeater seals travel vast distances and interact with numerous marine species in the Southern Ocean, vaccination is a proactive step to reduce potential disease transmission risks. The team also flipper tagged the seal for identification purposes.

“Flipper tagging provides a unique visual identification, allowing individual seals to be recognised over time. This helps confirm whether repeated sightings involve the same seal rather than different animals, particularly when a seal hauls out at multiple locations along the coastline,” said Martine Viljoen, Marine Wildlife team manager at the Two Oceans Aquarium.

As this rare Antarctic traveller rests along our coastline, the message is clear: Admiration from a distance is the greatest kindness we can offer. By respecting her space, we ensure that this extraordinary visitor’s journey remains a story of wonder, not harm.