Race to rescue seal trapped in Gold Coast lake

A Sea World rescue team has rushed to a shark-riddled Gold Coast lake after a stranded seal was spotted sunning itself in the deadly waters. WATCH HERE

A Sea World rescue team has rushed to a shark-riddled Gold Coast lake after a stranded seal was spotted sunning itself in the deadly waters.

The 18-month-old seal was seen by local residents in Lake Orr at Varsity Lakes.

Area Gold Coast city councillor Hermann Vorster said the lake was “full of bull sharks” and he was worried for the seal’s safety.

“I hope the poor little bugger is OK,” he said.

“It would be very sad to lose it to a bull shark and that lake is full of them.”

A Sea World spokesman said the seal was a long-nosed fur species estimated to be about 18 months to two years’ old.

He said while juvenile seals were sometimes seen on Gold Coast beaches over winter after weaning and losing their bearings, “we’ve never seen one this far up the river”.

“He’s in really good condition and is swimming naturally but he shouldn’t be in this geographic area so we’d like to intervene to get him back down south where he belongs,” the spokesman said.

But he said that might be easier said than done, with the seal difficult to catch in the tricky lake.

“We’re monitoring him and working on a plan with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service,” the spokesman said.

Sea World communications manager Mitchell Olivey said it was “very unusual” for a seal to be this far up the canals.

Sea World communications manager Mitchell Olivey said it was “very unusual” for a seal to be this far up the canals.

Mr Olivey said they believed the 18 month seal came in through the seaway and followed the canal systems.

He said the SeaWorld rescue team was monitoring the seal and confirmed he was in a “good condition”.

“It’s not uncommon for us to see some up this way at this time of year as at that age they’ve just weaned off their mother so they’re a bit inexperienced.”