Buffel the elephant seal returns to SA shores

Buffel the elephant seal has returned to Cape Town’s coast for his annual moult. Last year Buffel made Fish Hoek beach his home for the 30-days it takes for him to shed a layer of skin and fur. Now he is suitably situated at Buffels Bay in Cape Point.

Buffel, a southern Elephant seal, can grow to 3.7 metres and can weigh between 2.2-4 tons. The marine animal will shed his skin for around a month. His old skin becomes very itchy and throughout the process Buffel will not eat. He is especially vulnerable at this time.

Marine conservation photographer Jean Tresfon recently visited Buffel in all his moulting glory and captured some spectacular images. Luckily there were not too many people around. ‘He’s only been there a few days so most folks don’t really know about him yet. As word gets out it’s going to get fairly busy around him,’ said Tresfon.

If you’re wanting to visit Buffel, Tresfon says: ‘Enjoy the sight, it’s a real privilege to see one of these incredible visitors to our shores. They are the deepest divers of the seal world and are beaten only by some whale species amongst all marine mammals.

‘He probably originates from Marion Island so has travelled over 2,200km to get here. His melting is a completely natural shedding of his entire skin that takes about a month and he doesn’t eat during this time. He is particularly vulnerable at this stage but is still a very large and very wild animal so don’t get too close.’

There are no barriers around Buffel and he needs space. If you want to visit him, be respectful of this wild animal and don’t get too close and definitely do not crowd him. Let him be, don’t try to touch him or interfere.