Buffel is a southern elephant seal who visits Cape Town’s beaches every year to shed his skin. Despite usually living in the Southern Ocean, Buffel has an unusual fondness for Cape Town’s beaches and his annual visits serve as a reminder of the important role elephant seals play in marine ecosystems. They act as apex predators, regulating the population of prey species and contributing significantly to nutrient cycling. Buffel is also an indicator species, providing valuable data about the health of our oceans and the threats they face, and serves as a reminder of our responsibility to protect threatened species and maintain the delicate balance of our ecosystems.
