Seal spotted swimming in Waimata River

Seal season hasn’t quite ended yet for Gisborne, with the latest sighting on Waimata River near Anzac Park.

Char Tawera said she was in her lounge with her nephew, Awanui, when she noticed “a black shadow and what looked like a fin” floating slowly up the river on Monday morning.

“It is definitely [my] first time seeing a seal in the river,” Tawera said.

“We thought the animal may [have been] injured because it was moving so slowly...we weren’t sure it was even a seal at first.”

She quickly dressed herself “in case we needed to jump in and help it” and took her niece Ashanti and nephew Hunter to Anzac Park to see if the seal needed any help.

“Once we saw that it was okay, we walked along the river just watching to see what it would do.”

Although not an elephant seal, she said the seal reminded her of Homer the elephant seal who visited Gisborne for six weeks in 2000, cutting power to a restaurant, damaging cars, trees and bins in the process.

“I asked my niece and [nephew] what we should call this one. I think we landed on Maggie, to go with the Simpsons theme.”

According to information from the Department of Conservation, young seals typically begin to explore their environment from June to September.

People should keep a distance of at least 20m from kekeno and anyone who sees a seal that is severely injured, being harassed or in danger is advised to call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

Members of the public should never touch, handle or feed a seal as they can be aggressive if threatened.

It is also a breach of the Marine Mammals Protection Act to touch, handle or feed a seal.