12:00a.m. 13th May 2008

| By Damian Bathersby

Photo Gallery: Injured seal at Point Perry

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He may have proved a hit with onlookers, but the small seal which stopped for a rest at Coolum yesterday was a long way from home and could be badly injured.

The little bloke, who experts believe is probably a New Zealand Fur Seal, spent almost an hour on rocks at the base of Point Perry before apparently becoming spooked and returning to the water.

Onlookers said there were originally two seals but only one left the water.

“He was very, very cute,” said Broome visitor Samantha Johnson, who spent 15 minutes watching the animal.

“It looked like he had a few battle scars and was sunning himself on the rocks but then he dived into the water and we didn’t see him again.”

“We think he was injured – he was just sort of lolling around,” said a Coolum woman who enjoyed the spectacle from the lookout high above the rocks.

“We were all very excited when we saw him him doing roly-polys in the water.”

But the head curator of UnderWater World, Rob Mort, said by all reports the seal could be in serious trouble.

“There is most definitely a wound, probably from a shark attack,” he said after viewing photos supplied by the Daily.

“It’s impossible to say when it happened - it could have been months ago but this animal has most likely hauled out (left the water) because of its injuries.

“Based on the photos, it looks like a New Zealand Fur Seal but it’s impossible to tell if it’s a male or female.

“It’s difficult to say if it’s a pup or an older animal because older animals which have been compromised in any way are often stunted in their development.”

Mr Mort said it was unusual for New Zealand Fur Seals to be found this far north as their Australian breeding colonies were usually off the south coast of NSW and the waters of Victoria.

“They’re a long way from home.

“It’s unusual for them to be up here. It has happened in the past but not regularly.”

Under the direction of local EPA officers, an UnderWater World team went to Point Perry but was unable to find the seals.

Mr Mort asked beachgoers to keep an eye out for the animals but not approach them and immediately report their location to the EPA Animal Stranding Hotline on 1300 130 372.

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