‘Incredibly rare’: Sea lion ‘size of small cow’ killed in highway crash

A marine animal the “size of a small cow” has been tragically killed on the side of a busy highway, in what wildlife experts called a “freak accident”.

A large sea lion the “size of a small cow” was discovered dead on the side of a busy highway in North Adelaide, in what wildlife experts are calling a “freak accident”.

A state National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson told NewsWire there was a “small population” of Australian sea lions seen at the breakwater walls of Outer Harbor, but it was “incredibly rare” for the animals to swim into Barker Inlet, “let alone venture this far inland”.

A large sea lion was found dead on an Adelaide highway on Monday morning. Picture: NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

On Sunday, the agency received a report that a sea lion had been spotted in the mangroves and near a bridge below the North South Motorway.

“An inspection of the male animal found it appeared to be in good health, was not near the edge of the road and was in no immediate danger,” the spokesperson told NewsWire.

The agency warned residents to keep clear of the sea animals if they see them in the wild, as they are “large, powerful and at times aggressive animals that can weigh up to 300kg”.

“Attempting to move a sea lion of this size would have created a high level of risk for the animal and staff,” the spokesperson said.

“In most cases, animals return to their usual habitat on their own.”

The driver of the car said the impact left her car covered in blood. Picture: Facebook.

However, emergency services were called to the North South Motorway at Dry Creek in South Australia about 6am Monday after reports of a car hitting the sea lion.

“Unfortunately, that was not the case in this incident, which appears to be a freak accident,” the Parks spokesperson said.

A witness told FIVEAA radio the sea animal was the “size of a small cow … bigger than a sheep”.

South Australia Police confirmed the driver of the vehicle was not injured in the incident, and their car was towed from the scene.

The driver was shaken by the incident, and said she initially thought a kangaroo had jumped out at her. Picture: Facebook.

The driver of the vehicle, Hayley Steele, told The Advertiser she thought a kangaroo had jumped in front of her car while driving along the motorway, and the seal’s dark colour blended with the road.

“I was starting to come off to the Port River Expressway and I’ve just gone airborne over this thing that was lying on the ground … the whole front end of my car was broken,” she said.

“It was pitch black, I couldn’t see anything.

“There was another vehicle behind me that just clipped it, I was thankful for him because he stayed with me until my partner arrived.”

Originally published as ‘Incredibly rare’: Sea lion ‘size of small cow’ killed in highway crash