Columbo pops up at Victoria Bay

A regular visitor to Garden Route beaches, Columbo the southern elephant seal, made a surprise appearance at Victoria Bay, just outside George, on Tuesday, 3 June, after he had disappeared for several months.

- Chelsea Pieterse

Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (S.M.A.R.T.) committee member Val Marsh said she was called by the Garden Route SPCA George branch early on Tuesday morning and told Columbo had been spotted.

Marsh said she asked the SPCA to keep an eye on Columbo until the team got from Mossel Bay to Victoria Bay. She said she and some of the volunteers arrived at about 08:30 on 3 June.

Columbo is easily identified due to an injury that resulted in a permanent white mark in one of his eyes. He is also tagged.