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Research on seals, dolphins and whales in the Eastern Coast of South Africa. Report live or dead st

19/10/2026

🦭💙 Marine Mammal Monday: Cape Fur Seal Weaners 🌊

Have you spotted a young Cape fur seal resting on the beach? As spring moves towards summer, recently weaned seals may appear ashore. But did you know that not every seal needs rescuing? 🦭

Cape fur seal pups spend around 10–11 months with their mothers before being weaned in spring or early summer. They are then known as weaners or underyearlings. They turn one year old on 15 December and so become yearlings. 💙

This is a challenging stage of life! On their own for the first time, these young seals must learn to find food and survive independently. Some struggle to find or catch prey and may become emaciated or even die. Others may fall victim to predators such as sharks. The number that struggle varies from year to year, depending on the conditions. In 2020/2021, many more struggling weaners were recorded, with some appearing as early as August. Thankfully, current signs do not suggest an unusually poor season.

From October to January, weaners may be seen resting ashore, sometimes in busy or unsuitable locations. However, a seal on the beach does not automatically need rescuing. Some should simply be left undisturbed, while those on popular beaches may only need to be moved to a safer location. If they are emaciated or injured, they may need help and could require rehabilitation. Each case must be assessed individually, considering the seal's body condition and any possible injuries.

🐾 What should you do if you see a seal ashore?

🦭 Keep your distance. Never touch, feed or attempt to move a seal yourself.

🐕 Keep people and pets away from the animal.

📞 Report the sighting to Bayworld's Stranding Hotline: 071 724 2122.

⚠️ Rabies is a serious safety concern. Never approach a seal to inspect it yourself. Keep your distance and leave assessment to trained responders, who must consider possible signs of rabies while prioritising their own and the public's safety.

By reporting seals responsibly, you help trained responders decide whether an animal should be left undisturbed, moved to a safer location or brought in for rehabilitation. 💙🌊

Wishing all our little weaners the best of luck as they navigate this important stage of life! 🦭

15/10/2026

🦭🎂 Happy Ellie Seal Birthday! 🎉💙

Ziggy is very happy to announce that today is a very special day for southern elephant seals on Marion Island! 🥳🦭

Did you know that 15 October is the peak pupping day for southern elephant seals on Marion Island? 🌊

The pupping season begins in early September and continues until November. By 15 October, approximately half of all the pups born during the season have arrived, and more southern elephant seal pups are born on this day than on any other! 🥹💙

So, from Ziggy and all of us at Bayworld, we’d like to wish all the southern elephant seal pups a very happy, happy birthday! 🎂🦭🎉

Whether you’re a tiny newborn or already a few weeks old, we hope your day is filled with warm cuddles from Mum and plenty of growing! 💙🌊

13/10/2026

🦭💙 Meet Lulu! 🌊

Meet Lulu, a very special Antarctic fur seal with a croaky little voice and a personality that has already charmed her Bayworld carers! 🥹🦭

Lulu came ashore at Noordhoek, Cape Town, on 30 August. She was an emaciated female yearling and was initially thought to be a Subantarctic fur seal. Thankfully, the team at Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre came to her aid, and on 2 September, their volunteer Tracy helped transport her to Mossel Bay. After a check-up and some much-needed care at Hartenbos Animal Hospital, Bayworld staff brought her to Gqeberha that same day.

Once she arrived, Lulu was identified as an Antarctic fur seal rather than a Subantarctic fur seal! She was thin and sleepy after her journey, so she began a feeding programme and treatment for various health issues. Thankfully, she soon started gaining weight and is continuing to make wonderful progress. 💙

Lulu is quite the little lady when it comes to mealtimes. She's a slow, careful and very fussy eater, with a particular dislike for fish with big bones. Fillets are much more to her taste! 😂🐟 She also has a favourite brick in her pen, which makes the perfect hard little pillow for a well-deserved nap. And if you hear a funny, croaky call around the seal area, it might just be Lulu letting everyone know she's there! 🥹🦭

We're delighted to see this special girl gaining strength and settling into her rehabilitation. Every seal has their own story and personality, and Lulu is already making herself right at home.

A big thank you to Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre, its volunteers, Hartenbos Animal Hospital and everyone involved in getting Lulu safely to Bayworld and helping her on her road to recovery. 💙🌊

05/10/2026

🦭💙 Marine Mammal Monday: A Day at Pretoria Zoo! 🌍

Recently, Bayworld ambassadors Lisa and Johann had the wonderful opportunity to visit Pretoria Zoo, courtesy of their fantastic seal team! 🦭

We were welcomed by curator Elsie, who gave us the opportunity to spend time learning about her seals and the work that goes into caring for them. 💙

It was especially exciting to meet both their Cape fur seals and South American fur seals, and to share notes and experiences about working with some of our favourite animals. 🦭🤝🦭

We were incredibly impressed by their facilities, the level of training of their animals and the dedication of the team caring for them. There is always something new to learn when passionate people working with the same species get together!

Although we spent most of our day with the seals, we couldn't visit Pretoria Zoo without taking some time to see some of the other animals too. 🦛🦏🦒🦁 We were also incredibly grateful to the reptile team for allowing us the opportunity to interact with one of their Komodo dragons! 🦎💚

A huge thank you to Portia, Aus Kele, Elsie and the entire seal team, as well as the reptile team, for welcoming us, sharing your knowledge and giving us such a wonderful opportunity to spend time with your Cape fur seals, South American fur seals and African penguins, and for the unforgettable Komodo dragon experience! 🦭🐧🦎💙

From one seal team to another, thank you for a wonderful day of learning, sharing and, of course, seals! 🦭🌊

28/09/2026

💙🐾 World Rabies Day. Stronger Together 🌍🦭

This World Rabies Day, under the theme “Stronger Together,” let's remember that protecting animal health also helps protect human health. Every vaccination, every precaution and every act of awareness makes a difference. 💙

At Bayworld, the health and safety of our team and the animals in our care are a priority. All our team members working with Cape fur seals are vaccinated against rabies, and we follow strict protective protocols when handling these animals, including the use of protective clothing, face and eye protection, masks, gloves and gumboots. 🦭

As part of our rehabilitation work, we also vaccinate seals against rabies before their release, as appropriate.

🐾 Here's how you can help:

Ensure your pets are vaccinated against rabies.

Keep a safe distance from wild animals, including seals. Never attempt to touch or handle them.

Report any sick, injured or unusually behaving wild animals to the appropriate authorities.

Together, we can help protect our communities, our wildlife and the people who care for them. 💙

21/09/2026

🐬💙 Dolphin Strandings in Nelson Mandela Bay

Over the first two weeks of September, three dolphins washed ashore in Nelson Mandela Bay, including two bottlenose dolphins, a newborn and a young calf, at King’s Beach, and an adult common dolphin at Denville Beach.

While these strandings are deeply distressing, marine mammal experts believe that they are isolated incidents, with no current evidence linking them to the recent pilchard herpesvirus outbreak.

Both bottlenose dolphins would still have been suckling and therefore would not have been eating pilchards. A necropsy on the newborn found no obvious cause of death, while the calf had already begun to decompose, suggesting it may have died elsewhere.

The adult common dolphin came ashore alive, but despite the efforts of Bayworld marine mammal biologist Dr Sibu Ngqulana, Metro lifeguards and members of the public, it sadly died shortly afterwards. A necropsy found no obvious cause of death, although the animal appeared to have a bladder infection. Its stomach contained squid remains, with no evidence of pilchard consumption.

Common dolphins are an offshore species, making strandings in our area unusual. When one strands, however, others may follow in the coming weeks. Bayworld will continue monitoring the situation and investigating any further strandings.

⚠️ If you encounter a stranded dolphin, whale or seal:
Please keep your distance and contact the Bayworld team for guidance. Do not attempt to return the animal to the sea.

📞 Bayworld Stranding Hotline: 071 724 2122

Together, we can help protect our marine wildlife. 🌊💙

14/09/2026

🐬💙 Marine Mammal Monday: World Dolphin Day 💙🐬

Did you know that World Dolphin Day was celebrated on 12 September? 🐬🌊

So, for this week’s Marine Mammal Monday, we’re shining a little extra spotlight on these incredible animals! ✨

Dolphins are highly intelligent, social and remarkably adaptable marine mammals. They communicate using a complex range of clicks, whistles and body movements, live in close-knit social groups, and rely on healthy oceans for their survival. 🌊💙

But behind every playful leap and curious face is an animal that depends on us to protect the ocean it calls home. From entanglement and pollution to habitat degradation and human-wildlife interactions, dolphins face a number of threats in our changing oceans. 🥺🌍

At Bayworld, our work with marine mammals gives us a small window into just how remarkable these animals are and how important it is to understand, protect and respect the marine environment they depend on. 🐬🩵

So today, take a moment to appreciate the dolphins sharing our oceans… and remember that protecting dolphins starts with protecting the ocean. 🌊🐬

💙 Happy World Dolphin Day! 💙

🐬🌊

02/09/2026

🎉🦭 Happy 170th Birthday, Bayworld! 🐧🌊

Today we celebrate 170 years of an institution that has become such an important part of Port Elizabeth’s history and South Africa’s natural heritage. 💙

Bayworld has come a very long way since its beginnings in a single room at the Atheneum, through its time in a single house in Bird Street, to its current home since the 1960s. And what an incredible place it has become!

Today, Bayworld is home to the largest marine mammal collection in the Southern Hemisphere, a wonderful population of African penguins, some very special sea turtles, and Sammy, our much-loved Cape fur seal who recently celebrated her 21st birthday! 🦭🎂

We’re also incredibly proud to be home to the oldest New Caledonian giant gecko in captivity. 🦎

But perhaps what makes Bayworld truly special is its people. From the marine mammal and wildlife teams to the rehabilitation and stranding response teams, there are so many dedicated people working behind the scenes every day to care for animals, respond to emergencies, rehabilitate wildlife and contribute to conservation. ❤️

170 years is an incredible milestone, but this is certainly not the end of Bayworld’s story. We’re excited to see what the future holds and look forward to the redevelopment and the next chapter of this very special place. 🌊

Happy Birthday, Bayworld! Here’s to 170 years of history, wildlife, conservation and countless stories still to come. 🎉💙

31/08/2026

🦭 Marine Mammal Monday: Pebbles Update! 🦭

It’s been a little while since we checked in on Pebbles! 💙

This handsome boy is continuing his rehabilitation journey at Bayworld, where he is being closely monitored by the marine mammal team. He’s been keeping everyone on their toes, but we’re happy to see him continuing to make progress. 🐟🌊

Every day is another step closer to the ocean. 🥰🦭

Address

Corner Beach Road And Brookes Hill Drive, Humewood
Port Elizabeth
6013

Telephone

+27717242122

Website

http://www.bayworld.co.za/

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