Neliswa is safe for now. The rare elephant seal, who hauled up on the Wild Coast on Sunday, had been under threat of harm and on Tuesday, went back to the sea, slipping out of sight of Ntlonyana cottage owners trying to protect her. Save the Wild Coast leader Peter Jones, watched as Neli flopped back into the sea, swimming beyond the backline, enjoying the cool water on her moulting skin.
The battle to save Neliswa, the rare elephant seal who beached on a busy stretch of the Wild Coast, from becoming a meal, has reached a critical point with residents holding a 24/7 safety vigil after provincial parks staff appeared on Sunday and then left, residents said. Save the Wild Coast Leader and Ntlonyana cottage resident, Peter Jones, sat with “Neli” from 5-6am on Monday morning.
Breezy Bay locals celebrated the New Year with the arrival of a rare elephant seal, which beached on the Wild Coast on Sunday. Nicknamed Neliswa, the young, 3m-long female seal had come ashore to moult, shedding her fur and skin, said Bayworld curator of the marine mammal collection Dr Greg Hofmeyr.