As Aussies spend their Easter weekend laughing at the edges of the shoreline beaches And throughout the nation’s waterways, a particular town is trying to attract additional tourists with its vibrant local character — Sammy the seal.
Multiple videos showcasing the antics of an exuberant animal splashing around in the waters beneath Windang Bridge have been circulating online recently. As locals in Shellharbour advocate for their coastal town to be designated as NSW’s best seaside destination, these clips have garnered attention this week. Top Tourism Town .
In the video clip, Sammy is shown doing the signature move where he—or she—lies on his back with flippers raised above, entertaining both residents and visitors. Some people mentioned expressing hope to glimpse the "stunning" seal when they stop by.
“Definitely, he has a mind of his own,” said Bec Dunning, from SUP Shellharbour , informed Yahoo News. "We essentially pass by him nearly every day."
Dunning, who noticed Sammy once more on Wednesday "waving his tail" at both her and a customer as he was "concealed" behind one of the bridge's concrete supports, mentioned that the seal has resided in the vicinity for many years.
Many locals believe he has always been around. At times, we've seen as many as three seals beneath him, but lately, it's only been one," she explained. "These seals love doing their little barrel rolls. It makes us think they might be using the pylons on the bridge for some relaxation."
There are frequently "plenty of fish" that Sammy probably enjoys as snacks throughout the day.
Why is Sammy standing with his flippers up in the sky?
In an interview with Yahoo, Sea World Curator of Animal Welfare and Operations, Mitchell Leroy, revealed that Sammy's charming upside-down move is referred to as "sailing." This behavior serves as a method for the animal to regulate its body temperature.
"Essentially, they utilize their flippers above the water to either cool down or more commonly, warm up. This allows them to maintain their body temperature without having to leave the water," he explained.
Leroy mentioned that it is "fairly typical" for seals to occupy certain areas temporarily. "Many of them migrate at various points throughout the year for different phases of their lives, like breeding season, but then come back to these spots when they're spending other parts of the year there, such as winter."
It is probably reliant on previous education and achievements in actions like effective foraging, evading threats, or choosing a partner.
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Seal's playful meerkat maneuver has locals in stitches
Dunning informed Yahoo that Sammy can occasionally "get a bit frightened," particularly when there are jet skis nearby or construction work happening on the bridge.
"But typically, we can slip underneath there, relax for a short while, take a thorough look at him, and then continue on and observe him again on our return," she stated.
“Once I came through with a couple of guests, and couldn’t see him, and then all of a sudden he popped up behind us, had a look like a little Meerkat, and sort of followed me for a little bit, and then pushed away, and went swimming off somewhere else,” the local added, laughing about the seal's cheeky antics.
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The article initially appeared on Yahoo News Australia.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/local-seals-cheeky-behaviour-amuses-thousands-of-aussies-mind-of-his-own-211600713.html