Even if you spent much of your Sunday thinking about various sea mammals and their adventures in human habitations (and who hasn't?) the idea of a New Zealand fur seal pup flip-flopping its way into a Richmond (no, not that Richmond, the New Zealand Richmond) pub probably wasn't on the list of possibilities.
And yet, that's precisely what has happened. A baby fur seal galumphed, or so the story goes, into a bar and promptly wedged itself under the dishwasher. He was probably upset at being under the legal drinking age for seals.
The creature was apparently lost, curious and well below New Zealand’s legal drinking age. It lodged itself under the dishwasher and showed no interest in calling a cab.
It was a wet, lazy Sunday evening when the baby fur seal waddled into the Sprig + Fern The Meadows craft beer bar in Richmond, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island. Accustomed to seeing animals in the pet-friendly bar, co-owner Bella Evans assumed the visitor was a dog before she took a closer look.
“Everyone was in shock,” Evans said. “Oh my gosh. What do we do? What’s going on?”
A patron grabbed a sweater and tried to usher the seal out of the back door. Evading its pursuers, the creature dashed into a restroom and then hid under the dishwasher, which was swiftly unplugged.
Whatever his reason for invading the bar, he clearly didn't intend to make it his porpoise in life. He didn't appear to have a smartphone, so he wasn't there to take a sealfie. Maybe he harbored affection for one of the human patrons? The patrons themselves didn't seem troubled by the visit; the little guy wasn't krilling their vibe.
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Here, see for yourselves:
This would appear to be a very young example of Arctocephalus forsteri, the southern fur seal. They are inoffensive little critters, looking a lot like a big-eyed dog with flippers in the place of legs. They are intelligent and curious, although this young seal took curiosity to a new level.In the end, everything ended up OK for humans and pinnipeds alike.
New Zealand’s conservation agency confirmed it received “numerous” reports from the public about a seal spotted in Richmond on Sunday before the fugitive turned up at the pub. Bar staff “did a great job keeping the seal safe” until rangers arrived, said Department of Conservation spokesperson Helen Otley.
The seal was released on nearby Rabbit Island, considered a safe location because of its dog-free status, Otley said. It’s not unusual for curious young seals to show up in unexpected places at this time of year, she added, as they follow rivers and streams up to 15 km (9 miles) inland.
It's doubtful that the young seal will return to the Sprig + Fern The Meadows craft beer bar; it's certain to be a case of seal me once, shame on you, seal me twice, shame on me. This young critter is now where he belongs, on an island where he's safe, signed, sealed, and delivered.
So, until next time we have a compelling animal story, we'll seal you later!
I'll be here all week. Try the braised sea bass, it will make you clap for joy.
Editor’s Note: Help us continue to report the truth about nefarious flippered felons and their invasions of human vacation spots.
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