Seal pup rests on Australian beach after exhausting 2000km journey from Antarctic

A sub-Antarctic fur seal pup swam about 2000 km from Macquarie Island in the Antarctic to Whisky Beach on Wilson's Promontory in Victoria, Australia.

Jonathon Stevenson a ranger at Parks Victoria said to the Herald Sun that they (at Parks Victoria) received several calls that a seal was on the beach looking sick or injured.

"We weren’t surprised, knowing how far he had travelled. We know it had come from Macquarie Island because that is the nearest colony of this species", he said.

Since records began in the mid-1980s, only 36 of such pups have been seen in Victoria. However, seal pups from the same species have been seen this month in Anglesea, Portland, and now Whisky Beach. It is very rare to get so many within a few weeks according to the ranger.

Jonathon added, “Something strange must be happening in Macquarie Island for them to travel so far away. One possibility is that food sources nearby are limited so young seals are travelling further afield.”

When young seals are weaned they are left alone to forage, hunt and fend for themselves. Their usual diet consists of a variety of fish, octopus, cuttlefish and sometimes little penguins.

It is normal for tiny seal pups to be by themselves, like the adorable one dozing on Whisky beach as they only come together at their breeding site.

The baby seal spent the day relaxing on the beach before returning to the water later that night.