17 December 2019 11:12 pm Views - 2507
Several teams including wildlife veterinary officers, wildlife western region officers, coast conservation department officers and several navy personnel have been assigned to protect the seal which is resting in the sea off Bambalapitiya, a senior wildlife officer said.
He said they will protect the seal on a rotation basis.
"Although the moulting process appears to have been completed, the seal is seemingly taking a long rest," the officer said adding that visitors to the spot should not anything untoward to frighten the sea lion as it returns to the rocks to rest.
He said the seal had on several occasions attempted to move towards the railway station but the wildlife officers had turned it back.
"The seal returns to the sea at night but returns for bouts of sunbathing during the day," the officer said and reminded the visitors to keep the area clean.
These seals which are marine mammals are found in all climates, in both the northern and southern hemispheres and in the ocean.
The sea lion was spotted in the sea off Bambalapitiya and off Mirissa on November 21.
“The sea lions moult annually, usually after the breeding season and do not enter the water because of the lack of proper insulation to keep them warm,” the officer said and added that the sea lion might have been caught in a sea current and dragged towards Sri Lanka. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)