Cape Town’s sealebrity is back and this time hanging out around Duiker Island where filmer, Steve Benjamin runs diving tours.

The clip, filmed on September 25, shows Buffel the elephant seal exploring after returning to his favourite bay.

“He arrived on the 14th of September and has settled into his old habits, although his nose is much bigger. Buffel was last seen sunbathing on Fish Hoek beach for 26 days straight, when he moulted and re-grew his skin. Many people went to visit him and were fascinated by such a unique and massive creature making its home on their local beach,” Steve told Newsflare.

BUFFEL IS BACK - Cape Towns sealebrity is once again hanging out at Duiker Island, where we do our seal snorkeling tours. He arrive on the 14th of September and has settled into his old habits, although his nose (Shnoot, Trunk, Snorkel) is much bigger.

Buffel was last seen sunbathing on Fish Hoek beach for 26 days straight, when he moulted and re-grew his skin. Many people went to visit him and were fascinated by such a unique and massive creature making its home on their local beach.

I think Buffel was born in Cape Point by a lost and pregnant mother. There are images of a young elephant seal suckling with its mother. Steve Kirkman tagged a young Elephant seal on the slipway at Buffels Bay in Cape Point. The same young seal was spotted in Hermanus and Paternoser. In 2016 we at Animal Ocean saw him at Duiker Island for a few days before he disappeared. Then in 2017 and 2018 he stayed for months at Duiker Island, this time I photographed his flipper tag (#16577) and confirmed his identity. Buffel has huge scaring above his left eye and on his face, he's clearly fought with another large Fur seal or another Elephant seal. But he doesn't seem any worse off for it, he looks strong and healthy. Unfortunately Buffel is not among his own kind and has drowned a few Cape Fur seals in his misguided affections towards them.