The Southern Elephant seal that made himself at home on Fish Hoek Beach earlier this year has returned for the summer, this time choosing Duiker Island in Hout Bay as his vacation spot.
“Buffel” as he is fondly known by locals, became famous in Cape Town as he was often seen lazing around Fish Hoek Beach in January 2019. Now locals can catch a glimpse of the celebrity seal as he relaxes on his newly-chosen beach in Hout Bay.
Animal Ocean, a tour company in Cape Town, often sees Buffel during excursions. “It’s great to have him back in the area and we are seeing him daily on our snorkeling trips. He first arrived on Duiker Island on the 14 September this year and settled into his familiar patterns,” says Animal Ocean owner Steve Benjamin.
Buffel had shied away from the public eye in the middle of the year so many are happy to hear that he is back in town. Since his return, Animal Ocean managed to capture the first underwater footage of him enjoying the kelp forests.
“Buffel normally hangs out in back of a shallow bay, which is not accessible to us. It’s only when he comes out into deeper water that I have been able to approach him and film,” Benjamin adds.
Here’s their awesome footage of buffel in action:
This is not Buffel’s first visit to Duiker Island. He reportedly visited the area in December 2016 when he was a young seal. According to Animal Ocean, he seems to return each year, having made visits in 2017 and 2018 as well.
Buffel is sure to stick around for a while and if he does leave again, a return visit won’t be too far down the line.
If you’re interested in snorkeling or the ocean animals of the Cape, check out: www.animalocean.co.za and www.sealsnorkeling.com
Picture: Steve Benjamin
