Two Oceans Aquarium set out an alert this week on their Facebook and Instagram to the public asking them to please stay away from the seal pups that have been born on the beaches in Cape Town.

They received many calls from beachgoers spotting newborn seals, some without their mother. According to Two Oceans Aquarium, it is very unusual for seals to give birth on the beaches.

“Seals follow shoals of fish to feed, and sometimes the shoals move closer to our shores and further away from the islands where seals usually give birth – as the shoal moves, so do the seals. Pregnant seals may then find themselves too far from the island to return there before giving birth, and end up having to give birth on our beaches” Their post reads.

Unfortunately, it is more than likely that these poor pups won’t survive.

“On their breeding islands, pups can be left safely as this is far away from human or predator interference, but here in an urban environment, unfortunately, the pups are too exposed to survive.”

2Oceans are urging the public not to touch, move or pour water over the seals and to keep children and dogs away from them as this may cause them more distress.

If you do spot a baby or mother seal please contact the Cape of Good Hope SPCA‘s Wildlife Unit on +27 21 700 4140 (office hours) or +27 (0)83 326 1604 (after hours)

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba_T8ragG4r/?taken-by=2oceansaquarium

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