South Africa: Rabies outbreak in Cape fur seals: navigating a new reality

For years, Cape fur seals have displayed unusual behaviour — getting unnervingly close to swimmers, chasing scuba divers to the surface, and inflicting severe bite wounds on freedivers. The recent discovery of rabies in seals has sent a shockwave through the ocean-users’ community. Is this the missing puzzle piece that could explain their behavioural change? 

Seal health before rabies

Until four years ago, no data on seal health existed, leaving a significant gap in understanding the…