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I’m Ayanda,
A Seal Guardian at the V&A, I protect our ocean friends from trash.
An ocean hero
As a society, we don’t realise the impact that our trash has after we’ve thrown it away. One of the sad ways that rubbish impacts our planet is with our marine friends. Did you know that things like plastic bags, fishing gut, and rope end up in our oceans and curious seals (and other sea creatures) get entangled in them? This can lead to serious injury, starvation and death.
Along our V&A shore alone, nearly 30 seals were rescued from plastic pollution entanglements in 2023. Multiply that by all the seal havens across the world and just imagine how many seals die, without anyone to help them. In our neighbourhood, we’re committed to saving our seal friends. Meet Ayanda, the V&A’s seal monitor. Every day, he checks up on our V&A seals (up to 80 during summer) across 3 platforms.
Before this job, I wasn’t confident in the water at all. Now, wind or rain, I’m ready
to jump into the cold ocean that wraps around our neighbourhood to rescue seals
from human pollution that entraps them. I’m always looking for seals who are visibly entangled in something (usually fishing gut, rope or plastic bags), acting aggressive/erratic
or are under-weight.
When I see a seal that needs saving, I get my gear and dive in. After training, I now feel confident in the water. I even enjoy being in the ocean.
I have to be careful when dealing with seals because they are wild animals in distress.
When I cut them loose, there’s a sudden realisation that they are free. That’s the most rewarding moment.
A day in the life
From seal chaser to marine guardian
From seal
chaser to
marine guardian
In 2017, I started at the V&A as a seal chaser. Sometimes seals climb onto the yachts parked in
our Marina and cause havoc. So it was my job to chase them back into the water. Before I started,
I had no idea about seals. Thankfully, I was trained to deal with them safely. But I wanted to know more. I approached my Team Leader with a desire to grow.
The V&A Waterfront was amazing in giving me an opportunity to learn more, train and evolve
into a seal monitor.
“I often get calls about seals in need, throughout the West Coast. As this is outside of our neighbourhood borders. I have to pass these on to the SPCA but it shows that the V&A Waterfront is front-of-mind when it comes to seal conservation and I’m proud of the role I play in that.”
Ayanda / V&A Seal Guardian
Protecting the flippers of the future
In our eyes, Ayanda is a real hero. We’ll keep supporting him on his mission to protect seals. But, as a society, we can do our part to make his job easier and decrease the risk to all marine life.
Here’s a top tip from the Two Oceans Aquarium: cut the handles of your plastic bags to prevent the circular shape from dangerously constricting the necks of seals and other curious creatures. Better yet, skip plastic altogether!
Read the next chapter
Chapter 03
Joshio
V&A Marina Manager
