Those who decided to enjoy a sunny Friday stroll along Shelly walkway after a week of storms were treated to a delightful surprise visitor this morning.
A long nose fur seal, also known as a NZ fur seal, was seen soaking up the winter sun at South Steyne rocks this morning, posing up a storm as onlookers enjoyed the view.
This species of seal are mainly found in cooler regions such as South Australia and New Zealand, however, they’ve been known to pop up all over NSW and Sydney coastlines. A group of about 20 fur seals often travel from Montague Island Nature Reserve on the south coast and to “hang” at rocks around Palm Beach.
Although it is a rarity to bask in the presence of the majestic animal, onlookers are reminded they risk a $1300 fine for getting too close plus a nasty nip if it feels threatened. About 40m is the required amount of distance to safely observe seals, according to NSW Biodiversity Conservation Regulation. Double that for a pup.
If you’re disappointed your 9-5 prevented you from viewing the water-doggo, don’t worry, we got you covered with our gallery below:
Seal sightings have become more common in Sydney over recent years, with Benny at the Opera House and the Beaches’ own well-fed celeb, Reg.
Don’t recall Reg? Here’s our story on him from 2021.
Sitting down for the skinny on our flabbiest furry friend, Reg
