A seal has been spotted in an inland river in western Sydney, prompting a response from wildlife rescue teams who fear it may be in poor health.
However, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) said there were no obvious health problems and they were tracking the animal’s movements.
Photographs posted on social media showed the seal resting on a concrete slab next to the water’s edge in the Cooks River in Marrickville on Saturday.
“It’s not very often you see a seal in the Cooks River,” said Tim Gillard, who took the photographs.
The Cooks River runs through the inner suburbs southwest of the CBD and empties into Gamay/Botany Bay next to Sydney Airport.
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Gillard called the Organization for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (Orrca) which sent a rescue team to the scene.
Orrca spokesman Craig Ryan said the organisation, which rescues seals and dugongs as well as cetaceans, had been monitoring the animal since it was spotted on Sunday, February 22 near the mouth of the river at Kyeemagh, and was continuing to assess the situation.
The seal had explored several small streams flowing into Cooks: the party received reports of its presence “behind the bay” at Muddy Creek, and more recently at Wolli Creek and Earlwood.
The seal was last reported to Orrca on Sunday morning and Ryan said the group is “ready to respond” to any further sightings.
“Normally seals come closer to shore and are not regularly seen in these places,” he said.
Ryan said the seal appeared to be in a “state of disrepair.”
“You may need to rest a bit away from predators and find new places to find food.”
Dr Vanessa Pirotta, from Macquarie University, said marine mammals were a common sight in Botany Bay, so the possibility of one of them reaching Wolli Creek was “obviously there”.
But Sydney’s canals can be an unhealthy place to visit.
The Cooks River Estuary was rated as having “fair” water quality in the NSW environment department’s most recent summer sampling, 2022-23, after being rated “poor” in its 2010-11 report card. Its “algal abundance” rating has decreased since 2010-11 from “poor” to “very poor.”
An NPWS spokesperson confirmed that a New Zealand fur seal was first reported at the Kyeemagh boat ramp and has remained in the general area since.
They said it was not unusual to find seals in coastal inlets and other waterways.
“Although the animal is thin, it is active and has no obvious signs of injuries or other health problems,” they said. They will continue to monitor the situation with Orrca.
But Pirotta said photos of the animal suggested it was in poor condition, compared to other fur seals seen in Sydney.
“You only have to look at the people walking up the steps of the Sydney Opera House to know what a healthy fur seal should look like,” he said.
“From time to time, unfortunately, we see individuals that present themselves in poor condition. As a result, this animal will likely be evaluated by authorities to determine whether or not it needs to be euthanized.”
Pirotta said that despite the status of this individual seal, “fur seal populations continue to recover, which is good.”
He said the seal sighting is a reminder that “we are sharing our blue yard with these creatures.”
In 2012 another adult fur seal was seen in the Cooks River.
According to Orrca, there is a 40m exclusion zone around the seals when they “come out” to land.
Pirotta warned anyone who saw the seal to be careful: “Not only can they get a nasty sting, but a sting can also lead to an infection.”
Ryan urged the public to call Orrca on (02) 9415 3333 if they see marine mammals struggling or in unusual areas.
