When seals visit, leave them alone
PICTURE: Dean Turner, of Turner Visual, took this picture of the fur seal which recently visited Flat Rock. Dean kept a safe distance from the seal, using a long lens to ensure he didn’t spook the little fella.
No doubt many of us saw the cute pictures of the seal which recently visited Flat Rock, near Ballina. But the official word is: Leave them alone.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service says seals visiting North Coast beaches need to be left alone because without expert assessment, animals brought into care, even though well-intentioned, may face an unnecessary life in captivity or even euthanasia.
NPWS says that over the past two months, seals from Byron Bay to Port Stephens have been taken in by well-meaning members of the public only to be sentenced to a life in captivity.
Speaking at the release of a fur seal offshore from Coffs Harbour last week, NPWS Ranger Ann Walton said that to date this was the only seal taken from North Coast beaches this season to be going back to the wild.
“After being taken in from a beach at Forster and spending four weeks in care at Coffs Harbour’s Pet Porpoise Pool, this little guy is lucky to be going back home,” Ms Walton said.
“A young sub-Antarctic seal from Brooms Head and another taken in from Stockton Beach last month now must spend the rest of their days in captivity.
“Seals have the potential to carry diseases that could affect humans and their pets or other marine mammals held in zoos and aquaria.
“NSW is also bound by the Antarctic Treaty which means some seals brought into care cannot be released due to the risk of introducing new diseases in the Antarctic seal populations,”
“This is why it is so important people leave them alone and let the NPWS and other experts assess animals before any decision is made to take a seal into care.
“All seals have sharp teeth and even injured ones can pose a risk to rescuers. The best way people can help a seal is report sightings to their local NPWS office.
“NPWS staff and other marine mammal experts can then monitor the behaviour of seals before any decision is made to intervene.”
“Most seals visiting the North Coast during the winter months are probably following a food source such as squid or schooling fish, or are just exploring parts of their range.
“Although many seals show evidence of injury mostly caused by fighting between other seals and from predators such as sharks this is not an automatic reason to take them into to care.”
“Despite what sometimes appear to be very serious injuries, most seals appear to be quite capable of recovering — simply needing some time to rest and recover.
“Attempts at capture can cause undue stress to these animals and in the early stages it is best to leave the animal alone and monitor its condition. The seals will return south when they are ready,” she said.
Let it rest - keep your distance:
Seals are protected by law and people are required to keep at least 40 metres distance.
During the cooler months, May to October, it is not unusual to see seals and sea lions on local beaches, breakwaters and headlands.
Unlike whales, seals need to come onto our beaches to rest. This is known as “hauling-out” and is a natural behaviour.
Seals are wild animals and not accustomed to humans and may feel threatened by them or their pets.
Their only defence is to flee or attack and despite their ‘lazy dog’ appearance seals will defend themselves especially if their escape route to water is cut off.
Keep your pets, especially dogs, away as they are prone to harassing seals and may be injured or killed if the seal is provoked.
Seals may appear to be docile when hauled out, however people must remember that they can be very dangerous.
Seals are capable of outrunning humans over short distances over rocks or sand.
A ‘yawning’ seal is not tired. This is a threat gesture and should serve as a warning to onlookers to give the animal more space.
All seals are protected in NSW and it is an offence to harm or kill seals as well as interfering or harassing these creatures in any way. Penalties apply.
