Ruff, the Aquarium seal, is back in familiar waters

BACK AT HOME: Ruff is back at the East London Aquarium. Picture: SIBONGILE NGALWA
BACK AT HOME: Ruff is back at the East London Aquarium. Picture: SIBONGILE NGALWA
Ruff, the beloved East London Aquarium seal, is back in the pool she shares with other seals after she was spotted 2km up the Kwelera River and followed her aquarium staff rescuers to their vehicle.

“She came when we called her name,” said delighted BCM chief of marine services Siani Tinley, who together with aquarium superintendent Steven Rheeder packed the seal into the bakkie and took her to the only home she has known since she was rescued from the beach as a stranded pup.

When the 17-year-old seal was washed out of her pool at the East London Aquarium during massive wave surges that hit the coast three weeks ago, aquarium staff and members of the public were concerned she may have fared badly in the wild after being hand-reared and fed twice a day.

But then Tinley received the call that was to bring Ruff home.

-- For more on this story including an interview with the riverside resident who spotted Ruff, read tomorrow's edition of the Daily Dispatch and lookout for our video online.

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