Coast KZN

State of the Coast: KZN
State of the Coast: KZN

State of the Coast: KwaZulu-Natal Chapter 1: Introduction & Background Chapter 2: Overarching Drivers Chapter 3: Climate Variability
Chapter 4: Coastal Environment Chapter 5: Estuarine Environment Chapter 6: Marine Environment Chapter 7: Human Environment Chapter 8: Economic Environment
Chapter 9: Governance Environment Chapter 10: Conclusions
The Profile of the KZN Coast
The Profile of the KZN Coast

Ugu Lwethu- Our Coast Defining the Coastal Zone The Physical and Coastal Environment Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
Coastal and Marine Species Migrations The Human Dimension Socio-Economic Uses of the Coast Commercial Resource Uses
Pressures and Threats Management of the Coastal and Marine Environments Understanding our Coast
Coastal access
Coastal access

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Estuaries
Estuaries

What is an Estuary? Know your Estuaries Estuary Health and Conservation KZN Estuary Observer Programme
Historical Time Series Estuary Mouth Status Sand Mining
Recreation
Recreation

Fish TaggingAccess RoutesBlue Flag Beaches
Coastal risk and vulnerability
Coastal risk and vulnerability

Coastal Risk LinesExtreme EventsCoastal ErosionKZN Coastal Vulnerability IndexPollution
Coastal issues
Coastal issues

PollutionSand MiningCoastal ErosionNurdlesUPL Chemical Spill
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26 Jul 2017

Elephant seal makes a surprise appearance at Zinkwazi

Allan Troskie (North Coast Courier) Picture: The Elephant Seal that arrived at Zinkwazi Beach this morning. Photo: Cliff Hatt

 

“ “In the last 40 years we only have records of 11 of these seals visiting KZN’s coast” – uShaka Marine World’s Anne Kunz The“

An Elephant seal made its way onto Zinkwazi Beach this morning (Wednesday) and the public are being asked to keep clear of the animal.

According to Specialised Rescue Unit’s Quentin Power the seal is merely resting on the beach.

“We ask people to please stay away from the seal – if approached it will defend itself and may even bite.”
Power said members of the KZN Stranding Network – KZN Wildlife, uShaka Marine World and Specialised Rescue unit were at the beach monitoring the situation.

“Once it is done resting it will move on, so please do not crowd the animal or try to approach it to take pictures, we have already had several people trying to take selfies with the seal.”

Power said if people wanted to visit the beach and see the seal it was fine, so long as they kept their distance and leave it in peace.

“It is difficult to say how long it will stay on the beach, it may leave after today or it may hang around for several days recovering its strength.”

 

The Elephant Seal that stopped to rest at Zinkwazi Beach this morning. Photo: Cliff Hatt

uShaka Marine World’s Anne Kunz said the seal was likely only two years or so in age.

“These seals spend almost all their lives at sea and only come to land to breed or to rest.

“This particular animal is way too young to breed – or even to tell its gender with any certainty – but it does appear to be in very healthy condition.”

Kunz said it was not common for these seals to visit the beaches in KZN, though they do feed in the open ocean and occasionally end up on South Africa’s coast.

“In the last 40 years we only have records of 11 of these seals visiting KZN’s coast, they actually live on Marion Island.”
Marion Island is nearly half way to Antarctica from the South African coast, so this young seal certainly deserves a little rest.

 

 

Online Article