Dairy farmers ‘in shock’ after seal found 30km from ocean

A seal that made its way 30km inland to the surprise of farmers and cows has been euthanised. Watch the video of the surprise visitor.

Dairy farmers in the state’s south west have been left “in shock” after an Australian fur seal was found in a paddock about 30km from the coast.

Simpson farmer Karli McGee said she first saw “something brown” in the middle of a cow paddock on Sunday.

“We could just see something standing there in the distance, and we thought we’d better go check that out,” she told ABC Ballarat’s breakfast program.

Ms McGee said the seal and her cows had chased each other around the paddock. Picture: Karli McGee.

“When it got up and started moving it was definitely not a pig, it was a seal. Cows weren’t sure what to think.”

Ms McGee said she lived near bushland and believed the seal had travelled up rivers to get to Simpson.

It has continued travelling inland and, on Thursday, was about 1km away from where it was first seen.

The Melbourne Zoo Marine Response Unit (MRU) along with a veterinary team and local Parks Victoria wildlife authorities travelled to Simpson to assess the Australian fur seal on Thursday, Melbourne Zoo head veterinarian Michael Lynch said.

“The seal was first reported to the MRU on Monday (August 15) after it was seen on a dairy farm about 35km inland,” Mr Lynch said.

“Today’s intervention was required after the seal failed to find a way back to the open ocean along the same path it used to arrive at the farm.

“On assessment the seal was found to be elderly, and suffering from blindness in one eye and dental fractures. It was determined that euthanasia was the kindest welfare outcome as the seal would have been unable to forage and live naturally in the wild.”

A necropsy will be conducted in coming days.

Anyone who sees wildlife in distress or needing assistance can contact the Melbourne Zoo Marine Response Unit on 1300 245 678.