GEORGE NEWS - The young subantarctic fur seal which caused a stir last Wednesday on the beach at Herolds Bay is safely ensconced at Bayworld Oceanarium in Port Elizabeth where he has been placed on a special formula for pups. 

He is being kept in quarantine for 30 to 40 days and will then be released into the ocean, said Lugisani Mbhele, who has been taking care of him. He even ate two fishtails and is looking fit.

The pup was nicknamed "Arti" by one of the Mossel Bay Stranded Marine Animal Rescue (Smart) volunteers who transported him in her car from Mossel Bay on Sunday.

He had spent three days in the care of Dr Frans Graaff of Hartenbos Animal clinic, getting his strength back. It is not that unusual to find this species in South African waters," said Mbhele. "There is another pup in quarantine with us who is almost ready to be released."

These fur seals are also found on the Robberg island in the bay of Mossel Bay. In fact, a subantarctic fur seal ("Edward Flipperhand" as he was nicknamed) was also found washed up on the beach on the Muizenberg shoreline on Saturday 22 July. 

Edward was taken to the SPCA's Grassy Park Wildlife Unit after a concerned member of the public stumbled upon the seal pup.

Read a previous article here: Pelsrob ure gestrand op Heroldsbaai

ARTICLE:  PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST

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