Lone crabeater seal travels 4,500km from Antarctica to Cape Town

An Antarctic crabeater seal has arrived on Cape Town’s coastline after travelling roughly 4,000 to 4,500 kilometres from Antarctica, prompting monitoring and safety warnings from local marine authorities.

The seal’s presence has been widely shared online for more than a week. In recent days, the Two Oceans Aquarium and the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation both posted about the rare visitor on Instagram.

Rare Antarctic visitor reaches Cape Town

The animal is a crabeater seal, the most abundant seal species on Earth, but one that is rarely seen in Cape Town because it lives on Antarctic ice floes.

Despite its name, the crabeater seal does not eat crabs. Its teeth are designed to filter feed on krill.

The seal appears to be relaxing in Cape Town. “It’s taking what I would imagine as a much-earned rest after travelling 4,500 kilometres from Antarctica,” said Primedia Plus Digital Editor Barbara Friedman.

Tagged, vaccinated and monitored

Posts from the Two Oceans Aquarium and Marine Wildlife Management have detailed the seal’s condition.

She has been tagged and vaccinated, and her movements are being monitored. Authorities noted that seals are often subject to rabies in local populations.

Officials are urging members of the public to keep their distance if they encounter the animal.

“If you’re lucky enough to spot it, please keep at least twenty metres away. Respect the cordoned-off areas. Keep your dogs on a leash. Please, no touching, no feeding, no pouring water over her.”

The repeated message: let the seal rest after its long journey.

A moment of wonder on the coastline

Images shared online show the seal appearing relaxed, with one picture described as looking like she is ‘laughing and smiling’.

“I know I love to anthropomorphise animals, but she looks so cute,” Friedman said.

While unusual, solitary long-distance seal visits are not unheard of, with past examples of large seals resting on South African beaches for extended periods.

For now, the focus remains on giving the Antarctic crabeater seal space to recover after a journey of thousands of kilometres and ensuring Cape Town residents admire it from a safe distance.

For more information, listen to Friedman using the audio player below: