It was just another day on the beach until this beachgoer discovered some unusual tracks. As any curious mind would do, the beachgoer opted to follow them. What they found at the end of those tracks was truly a surprise.
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Beachgoer Follows Unusual Tracks And Finds Massive Animal
The Dodo shared the story of the beachgoer who followed the unusual tracks. It was a normal day on a beautiful Tasmanian beach. That was until a beachgoer spotted these strange prints and decided to follow them up the dune.
Whatever animal left these tracks had to be massive, and it was. I will be honest, when I first heard this story, I was expecting some type of sea turtle. They can grow quite large, and it is not uncommon for them to come on shore to lay their eggs. However, this animal at the end of the tracks was even more massive.
When they reached the end of the unusual tracks, the beachgoer was face-to-face with a southern elephant seal. According to the Marine Mammal Center, “Adult males may grow to over 13 feet in length and weigh up to 4,500 pounds. The females are much smaller at 10 feet in length and 1,300 pounds.” Luckily, this beachgoer had enough sense to keep a safe distance from the massive mammal.
Reinforcements Were Called
The beachgoer decided to call Susie, a wildlife rehabilitator with Wildlife Safe Tasmania. Upon arrival, Susie ensured that the seal was healthy and was just resting on the beach. From there, she left the animal alone. She did however ensure that its escape to the ocean remained clear. That way whenever he wanted to return to the great ocean blue, he could.
“It was amazing to see,” she told The Dodo. “I feel privileged that I got to photograph him.” Who would have thought that following some unusual tracks would lead to such an epic and rare moment.
