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Seemingly rabid Cape Fur seal carcass sinks in the ocean before being tested for rabies

Seemingly rabid Cape Fur seal carcass sinks in the ocean before being tested for rabies
Kristin Engel
By Kristin Engel
27 Mar 2025
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As the rabies outbreak continues to unfold in Cape fur seals in South Africa, each case is crucial in better understanding the deadly virus — the first known rabies outbreak in a marine mammal globally. After a January 2025 seal attack in Cape Town, where a seal was euthanised, its carcass was supposed to be sent for rabies testing. But this never happened.

The outbreak of rabies in Cape fur seal populations is spreading in South Africa, with confirmed cases now also found in seal pups.

In January 2025, an alarming incident occurred at Windmill Beach where a snorkeler was bitten on his foot by a seemingly rabid Cape fur seal. The beach was closed, with authorities monitoring the seal until it was safe to euthanise, and the seal carcass was to be sent for rabies testing. But this never happened.

Reportedly, the seal displayed worrying behaviour, as before and after biting the snorkeler it would attack a nearby dive buoy about every 10 minutes and move about one or two metres away, swimming in circles.

Read more: Diver attacked off Simon’s Town — what to do if you’re bitten by a rabid seal

Nicole Kieswetter, a field worker at marine mammal science research organisation Sea Search, told Daily Maverick at the time that they had also seen it pursue an African penguin, but that the penguin fortunately managed to escape.

Sea Search said that even without being able to test the animal, it was clear it was infected with rabies as evidenced by its behaviour.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment confirmed to Daily Maverick that through coordination with the City of Cape Town, a licensed and experienced marksman was sourced to euthanise the seal involved in the biting incident. 

The seal was successfully euthanised, but prevailing sea conditions were not ideal (wind chop) for retrieval of the carcass by boat or swimming. Thus, the carcass sank, as happens when a seal dies in the water. 

The City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews, added that this seal was quite far offshore, and was still attacking the diving buoy that the snorkelers had left behind hours after the incident.

“The City’s Coastal Management team was not on a boat due to the rough sea conditions (a strong south-easterly wind). The marksman took the shot from land for stability reasons. Seals sink very quickly when shot at sea; as a result the carcass was lost, unfortunately,” said Andrews.

The beach was subsequently monitored but no carcass with entry wounds washed up, which meant that the  carcass was lost to researchers who have been investigating the outbreak of rabies in Cape fur seal populations.

As the rabies outbreak continues to unfold in Cape fur seals in South Africa, each case is crucial to better understanding the deadly virus — the first known rabies outbreak in a marine mammal globally. 

Read more: Documentary reveals urgent rabies threat to South Africa’s marine ecosystem

Positive rabies cases in Cape fur seal pups


Sea Search, a marine mammal science research organisation that has been actively responding to incidents and researching the rabies outbreak in seals, confirmed this month that it had had positive cases of rabies in Cape fur seal pups, born in November or December 2024, which had contracted rabies from other seals at the colonies.

The team said in a post that the seal pups, worn out and weak, were found on public beaches in Cape Town.

“From the colonies to the coastlines, rabies is spread through saliva, and in the final stages of the disease, it can appear as though rabid animals are ‘programmed’ by the virus to bite one another. Rabid animals come in all shapes and sizes. The most vulnerable seals at the colonies are perhaps more prone to being bitten, and newly born Cape fur seal pups are no exception,” said Sea Search in a post. 

It cautioned that it had never been more important to give wildlife the space it needed, to observe animals from a distance only, and to call the authorities if you saw a sick or weak animal.

The authorities said it was paramount that people did not approach a seal on the beach. If it was healthy, it would return to the water of its own accord, and if it appeared sick, it was best to call the authorities. 

When contacting the authorities, members of the public were advised to send a location pin, a photo or preferably a short video to either CapeNature at 083 236 2924,  Sea Search at 021 788 1206, or the City at 021 480 7700.

The authorities warned the public to not approach or let dogs interact with a suspected sick or weak seal as if they were bitten or scratched it could mean a death sentence for the pet. 

“An infected pup may seem more approachable — less of a threat compared with an adult seal — but please don’t be fooled; they are still strong, their teeth are sharp, and a sick animal is unpredictable. A bite is a bite — however cute the animal might appear,” advised Sea Search.

This is what rabies looks like in a Cape fur seal:


Safety precautions and protocols 


The City of Cape Town has advised members of the public to always adhere to the following guidelines at beaches and harbours when encountering seals:

  • Please keep your distance at all times from seals (in the water and on land).

  • Do not interfere with, attempt to handle, touch or restrain a seal.

  • The public is reminded that it is illegal to harm or interfere with a seal.

  • Do not interact with any seal in harbours and especially refrain from interacting with seal feeders in Hout Bay harbour.

  • Ensure that your dog is under your control at all times and preferably on a lead wherever seals may occur.

  • Do not touch, handle or consume a seal carcass or any parts thereof.

  • Listen and obey requests to vacate the sea or coastal areas as given by City officials, City lifesaving staff, Table Mountain National Park staff or their representatives.

  • Report any seal incidents or attacks/bites immediately to the City at 021 480 7700.


In the case of a seal bite, CapeNature said that if a seal bit someone in the water, the beach would be closed immediately, marked by the activation of a shark siren and the raising of a shark flag, if available.

Following this, shark spotters or lifeguards would notify CapeNature and the State Vet, who would provide guidance on the necessary action. Municipal Disaster Management would also be informed.

Lifeguards or first responders would monitor and track the seal’s movements. The beach would only reopen after the seal had been safely removed or had vacated the area.

Authorities also advised that anyone who had been bitten should seek urgent medical care at the nearest hospital. While at the scene, the wound should be thoroughly washed with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes. 

Then, the person must be taken to the nearest hospital to receive rabies vaccinations. The patient needed to inform the hospital personnel that the bite was from a seal that may be rabid. DM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REeWvTRUpMk

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