Rabid Seal Bite At Windmill Beach Sparks Safety Concerns

A recent seal attack off Windmill Beach in Cape Town has drawn attention to the growing threat of rabies within the Cape fur seal population, Cape town Etc reports.

On Monday, 20 January, a snorkeler was bitten on the foot by an aggressive seal, prompting immediate action from emergency responders and marine researchers. This incident is just one of several involving seals exhibiting unusually aggressive behaviour, likely due to the ongoing rabies outbreak among these animals.

The incident occurred around 10am when a family snorkelling off the beach was attacked by a Cape fur seal , which had been aggressively targeting a yellow dive buoy the family was using.

After the family escaped the water, the seal, still displaying unusual behaviour, bit one of the men as he was exiting.

Researcher Nicole Kieswetter from Sea Search arrived shortly after the incident, accompanied by City of Cape Town Coastal Management officials, to assess the situation.