Seal you later, Columbo!

Update

GEORGE NEWS - After a record 41-day stay, Columbo, by now likely the most photographed elephant seal in the ocean, has bade Vic Bay: “So long, and thanks for all the fish!”

The 500kg immature male elephant seal, easily identified by a white spot on his left eye and a green tag on his hind flippers marked ‘0196’, galumphed onto this iconic surfing beach on 3 June, drawing huge interest from locals and inland visitors alike.

Expertly camouflaged between the muted toned rocks, Columbo (estimated to be four to five years old) spent his days snoozing, yawning, scratching, roaring and play-fighting rocks and tree trunks - much to the entertainment of daily crowds that gawked at his antics. His beach time was interjected by brief ocean fishing stints to keep the tummy topped up.

Dedicated volunteers of the Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (Smart), a registered non-profit company that rescues, rehabilitates and releases injured and stranded marine animals, watched over the celebrity seal for six weeks, monitoring him for his and the public’s safety. Not that these solitary giants of the deep are aggressive, but they might react defensively if startled.

The ‘Smarties’, as the Smart volunteers are colloquially known, patiently braved the elements, fielding hundreds of questions about elephant seals and Columbo in particular.

At night, a security guard kept a beady eye on the esteemed guest. A number of vets, scientists and seal specialists, including Dr Greg Hofmeyr of Bayworld in Gqeberha, visited Columbo at Vic Bay to gain a deeper understanding of his condition and behaviour.

Hofmeyr is a marine mammal biologist and curator of marine mammals at Bayworld. Having completed his PhD on elephant seals, he is intricately involved in elephant seal research and conservation, conducting regular field assessments, such as when he paid a visit to Columbo on 29 June.

Intrigued by Columbo’s almost obsessive attitude towards inanimate objects, the experts consulted with colleagues from around the globe about what to do with the vagrant seal.

Should he be relocated to a quieter beach, away from social media content creators that would every now and then try to get a reaction out of him, or should he be chased into the ocean?

In one recent incident, a seemingly intoxicated person deliberately provoked Columbo, leading to the seal chasing and exhibiting aggression towards him. Another memorable disturbance occurred when a red bakkie with passengers experienced brake failure and subsequently came screaming down the hill, narrowly missing the surf shop and restaurant deck, but smashing into and demolishing the beach showers that surfers use. Columbo was reportedly highly agitated by the noise of trucks and machines clearing the rubble.

Make the noises stop! Columbo placing his flipper on his face.

Regular fights with rocks - one of the notable behaviours Columbo developed during his stay - caused his teeth to wear down and led to the formation of a thickened patch of skin on his chest. However, after several expert consultations, it was agreed it would be best to leave Columbo undisturbed. This as attempts to move or chase him could cause distress or injury to the animal and humans. Since Columbo was not ill or suffering, euthanasia was out of the question.

Columbo, who has been a familiar face along Garden Route shores since November 2023, is believed to have bade Vic Bay farewell on Sunday night or in the early hours of Monday morning.

Nobody knows for sure where he might have gone. While southern elephant seals like Columbo come from the Subantarctic and Arctic islands, Smart's Val Marsh previously told George Herald they were not sure if Columbo had been back to the Southern Ocean since he first showed his face along the Garden Route shores, or if he's become a vagrant seal, like Buffel in Cape Town. Time will tell.

Columbo showing some manners while yawning