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A Cape fur seal who was rescued and rehabilitated in Bayworld Aquarium in Gqeberha in December last year has resurfaced about 400 km from his release site.
Marketing Director for the South African Biodiversity Institute of South-Africa (SANBI) Nontsikelelo Mpulo says the young Cape fur seal, known by zoo staff as Captain-Z has now been relocated to Pretoria following his harrowing ordeal over the past eight months.
She says when Captain Z was first rescued he had a damaged eye and was nine kilograms underweight.
The seal stayed at Bayworld for three months and when he weighed 18.3kg he was released to the local seal colony in Algoa Bay.
Mpulo says he was discovered 400 km away from the release site five weeks later, weighing just 13 kg.
She says after careful consideration Bayworld decided to not release the seal again.
Captain-Z was then flown to Pretoria with the assistance of The Bataleurs- a non-profit organisation assisting with flights of an environmental nature.
Mpulo says upon his arrival at the Pretoria Zoo, the seal was placed in an off-display area to allow him to settle until he is ready to join the zoo's population of fur seals.
She says Captain-Z, who now weighs 25.4kg is settling in nicely.
Mpulo says his story is one of perseverance and good fortune.
