Concerns for ‘declining’ fur seal spotted at Cooks River in inner Sydney | Australia news

A seal has been spotted in a western Sydney river, sparking 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 that it was tracking the animal’s movements.

Photos posted on social media showed the seal resting on a concrete slab at the water’s edge of the Cooks River in Marrickville on Saturday.

“You don’t see a seal in the Cooks River very often,” said Tim Gillard, who took the photos.

The Cooks River flows through the inner suburbs to the southwest of the CBD and flows into Gamay/Botany Bay, adjacent to Sydney Airport.

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Gillard called the Organization for Cetacean Rescue and Research Australia (Orrca) who sent a rescue team to the scene.

Orrca spokesperson Craig Ryan said the organisation, which rescues seals, dugongs as well as cetaceans, had been monitoring the animal since it was spotted near the river mouth at Kyeemagh on Sunday (February 22), and was continuing to assess the situation.

The seal had explored several small streams which flow into the Cooks: the group received reports of them “behind the bay” at Muddy Creek, and more recently at Wolli Creek and Earlwood.

The seal was last reported in Orrca on Sunday morning and Ryan said the group was “ready to respond” to any further sightings.

“Normally the seals come closer to the coast, they are not regularly seen in these places,” he said.

Ryan said the seal appeared to be in a “declining state.”

“It might need to rest, away from predators, and find new places to find food.”

Macquarie University’s Dr Vanessa Pirotta said marine mammals were commonplace in Botany Bay, so the possibility of one making its way into Wolli Creek was “obviously there”.

But Sydney’s waterways can be an unhealthy place to visit.

The Cooks River Estuary was marked as having “fair” water quality in the NSW Department of Environment’s latest 2022-2023 summer sampling, after being rated “poor” in its 2010-2011 report card. Its “algae abundance” rating has decreased since 2010-2011, from “poor” to “very low”.

An NPWS spokesperson confirmed a New Zealand fur seal was first reported at Kyeemagh boat ramp and had remained in the area since.

They said it was not uncommon to find seals in coastal coves and other waterways.

“Although the animal is thin, it is active and shows no obvious signs of injury 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 individuals walking up the steps of the Sydney Opera House to know what a healthy fur seal should look like,” she said.

“From time to time, unfortunately, we see individuals who present in poor condition. As a result, that animal will likely be evaluated by authorities to determine whether or not it should be euthanized.”

Pirotta said that despite the condition of this individual seal, “fur seal populations continue to recover, which is a good thing.”

She said sighting the seals is a reminder that “we share our blue garden with these creatures.”

In 2012, another adult fur seal was seen in the Cooks River.

There is a 40m exclusion zone around seals when they “beach up” on land, according to Orrca.

Pirotta warned anyone who sees the seal to be careful: “They can not only have a nasty bite, but [a] the bite can also be accompanied by an infection.

Ryan urged members of the public to call Orrca on (02) 9415 3333 if they observe marine mammals in difficulty or in unusual areas.