Here in the Cape, we’re blessed to have an abundance of interesting wildlife.
This week, a caracal was spotted dodging cars near Kloof Road – likely searching for food as a result of habitat loss.
Also read: Look! Caracal seen strolling the busy streets of Cape Town
As humans move in, many wild animals are pushed out. This is the case on beaches, too.
Seals – dubbed the puppy dogs of the sea – now share Cape Town’s beaches with an endless stream of human visitors.
An example: locals and tourists alike flock to see the iconic seals of Hout Bay Harbour, which have become all too familiar with humans getting up close and personal.
Unfortunately, instances like this result in people crossing the line when it comes to approaching wildlife in general.
One woman was recently reminded of this when a seal attacked her on the beach in Fish Hoek. She was trying to capture a photograph (from a reasonable enough distance) when the seal charged.
The clip circulated widely on Whatsapp and was shared by Reddit.
Some people made light of the encounter with witty comments:
- “Definitely not a Navy Seal… lol”
- “I don’t think it understands voetsek. Maybe an imported variety “
- “You had 1 job. All you had to do was run and you stuffed it up.”
- “Lord have mercy. Why would you run backwards from a wild animal? Not everyone is meant to survive.”
Others expressed concern for the runaway woman or the seal saying: “Is this lady okay?” or “He [the seal] looks grumpy. I hope that person wasn’t messing with the seal. If so, they got their just desserts.”
If you happen to encounter a seal, Cornwall Seal Group suggests you aim to stay calm and move slowly to avoid spooking the animal and provoking an aggressive response. Be confident that seals are generally gentle creatures unless they feel threatened.
Also read:
Seal gets comfortable in family’s home – traumatising Coco the cat
Picture: Screenshot / Facebook