Goodbye Mr Brown: Hout Bay bids farewell to famous 22-year-old seal

Mr Brown, a seal renowned in Hout Bay, Cape Town, was euthanised on Wednesday, 10 November. The seal formed a close bond with a local resident known as Prof Joe who found him when he was less than a year old 22 years ago.

MR BROWN STRUGGLED AFTER ACCIDENT

According to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, Prof Joe fed Mr Brown every day for the past 22 years. The decision to euthanise the seal was not an easy one.

The SPCA, Hout Bay Seal Rescue, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DEFF) and an independent veterinarian monitored Mr Brown for months and consulted with Prof Joe before putting down the seal on Wednesday.

“The 22-year-old seal struggled with poor mobility and impaired eyesight in his advanced age. A few months ago, the seal was involved in an incident with a reversing truck which further exacerbated his poor mobility,” said the SPCA in a joint statement.

Since the accident, Mr Brown struggled to move freely and was in pain and discomfort. Prof Joe also expressed his concern about the seal’s health and he approached Hout Bay Seal Rescue for help to end Mr Brown’s suffering.

Thousands of dead Cape fur seals have been washing ashore across beaches on the West Coast. An investigation into mass mortality is underway. Preliminary findings suggest that the seals are dying of malnutrition but a final report is yet to be made public.

“All stakeholders empathise with the loss of the seal; however, we remind the public that feeding of seals or any wildlife is strictly prohibited by law.

“Any person who feeds or exploits a photo opportunity involving seals will be liable to prosecution and / or a hefty fine.  The relevant authorities will continue to enforce the law in this regard,” said the statement.