Rabies has been detected in Cape Fur Seals along the South African coastline since October 2023, with the first verified case confirmed on 7 June 2024. The Western Cape Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services and the State Vet are managing the situation and public health guidelines have been set. The public is asked to comply with guidelines to maintain public safety and animal welfare, including not touching, handling, or consuming seal carcasses or any part thereof. Future mitigation strategies are being developed to preserve the equilibrium of South Africa’s fragile coastal ecosystems.
The gruesome discovery of six Cape fur seals found stabbed on Kommetjie’s Long Beach has left both the local and international community in shock. The Cape of Good Hope Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has reported that two of the six seals were pregnant females, making this incident even more tragic.