When dogs, seals and beachgoers clash: How to safely respond to wildlife on our beaches

A video circulating on social media showing four dogs confronting a seal on a beach has sparked concerns about how people and pet owners should behave around marine wildlife. The dogs appear to be off leash, while the encounter becomes increasingly tense before the owner eventually calls them back. Another man then approaches the seal, which charges at him, prompting him to slap the animal several times before it retreats. The incident highlights both the importance of keeping dogs under control on beaches and the need to give wild animals plenty of space, rather than attempting to touch, move or interact with them. Lisa Starr, media liaison for the Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre and founder of the Helderberg Ocean Awareness Movement, speaks to Lester Kiewit about the incident and what beachgoers should and should not do when they encounter a seal.   Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show.  This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily.  Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news.  Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit.  Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk  For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/xGkqLbT or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/f9Eeb7i  Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5  Follow us on social media  CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.