seal.watch / australia

Australia · public record

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Australia · observation

Point Lonsdale roads and service station

· Victoria

A large southern elephant seal came ashore at Point Lonsdale, crossed roads and entered a service station, where responders guided it back toward the water. It was later seen at Blairgowrie.

Species
Southern elephant seal
Number of seals
1
Attributed name
Unidentified
Source
The Guardian Australia / Victoria Conservation Regulator

About this record

Supporting evidence
The Guardian published 24 January and identifies the incident as occurring on Friday; 20 January 2023 was that Friday. The report attributes the species and response details to the Conservation Regulator. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/24/elephant-seal-victoria-australia-mornington-peninsula-beach-blairgowrie-point-lonsdale
Identification confidence
Not recorded
Editorial status
Published by Seal Watch.

Source wording, attributed names and approximate date labels are preserved. A published report does not establish a verified animal identity.

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Other reports with the same broad area or attributed name.

Point Nepean Road near Anthony's Nose, Dromana

One seal rested on Point Nepean Road before returning to the water. Later speculation that it was the local seal called Sammy is not a confirmed identification.

Source: ABC News; AFP via New Age

Lake Bunga Beach near Lakes Entrance

A juvenile sub-Antarctic fur seal was first seen resting unharmed at Lake Bunga Beach, then found with severe facial, spinal and rib injuries later that day and euthanised.

Source: The Guardian Australia / Crime Stoppers Victoria

Rye pier and beach

A large seal was in the water and then on the Rye pier during an incident in which two people entered the water; the source describes the seal as acting aggressively but does not identify the species.

Source: Mornington Peninsula News / Conservation Regulator

Camerons Bight Beach, Blairgowrie

The same southern elephant seal from the Point Lonsdale incident appeared at Blairgowrie on the following day and rested at Camerons Bight Beach.

Source: The Guardian Australia / Victoria Conservation Regulator