An update on Durban's favourite seal, Selso
Selso, the seal has been spotted by sealers on Marion Island, east of the Southern Indian Ocean and is still in a healthy condition.
The southern elephant seal underwent rehabilitation at Ushaka Marine World's Sea World after being found stranded on the South Coast beach in 2013.
Fitted with a satellite tracker, he was released about 60km offshore of Port Elizabeth.
Assistant curator Colette Bodenstaff says they have received feedback from researchers on Marion Island on his condition.
"The sealers spotted him on November 4, immobilised him and removed the [tracking] device off him. They've taken a fur and whisker sample for their research.
"Selso then moved off - it is a big island so he could be elsewhere on the island. Judging by the photograph, he has gained a lot of weight - preparing for his annual moult.
"During this time, they do fatten up which allows them to lie on the beach very lazily. So he won't really move for six to eight weeks," she said.
Bodenstaff has explained Selso's travelling patterns.
"When we initially released him off of Port Elizabeth, he travelled about 4000 kilometres in four months. He travelled all the way to the Arctic shelf. He seems to now have found his groove - we have seen from the tracking device that he has been in feeding circles staying off continental ridges where food is abundant," she said.
See photos of Selso below.
(Marion Island sealers with Selso)
(Photos: UShaka Sea Worls, Marion Island Marine Programme)