PICS: Female southern elephant seal makes rare visit to Camps Bay to moult

Camps Bay beach has an unexpected visitor – a female southern elephant seal who has hauled out onto the sand to moult. 

In this process, which takes about a month, the seal sheds and replaces its outer layer of fur and skin. 

During this time, the seal remains on land, conserving energy as she undergoes this essential, energy-intensive process.

Female southern elephant seals are significantly smaller than the males. While the latter can grow up to six meters long and weigh more than four tonnes, females average about three meters and weigh about 500 kilograms.

As exciting as it is to see such an unusual visitor, keeping your distance is essential to ensure the seal can rest undisturbed. 

If you’re in the area, here are a few simple guidelines:

• Keep your distance: approaching too closely will stress the animal and could disrupt her moulting process.
• Keep dogs on leashes.  
• Follow all safety measures. 
• Avoid disturbing her rest.
• Do not harm the seal.

Camps Bay visitors have captured the rare moment and shared it on social media, see below: