Stranded Elephant Seal Flops in Street in Chilean Seaside Town Before Rescue

A large elephant seal was seen floundering in the streets of Puerto Cisnes, Chile, on October 5, before the Chilean Navy directed a rescue operation to take it back to the ocean.

Footage of the seal shows it flopping in a roadway while cars and pedestrians pass.

According to Google Translate, local news reported the elephant seal “traveled for about ten blocks through the area considered the largest urban center of Puerto Cisnes,” a seaside community about 950 miles south of Santiago.

“Fifty people participated in the rescue of the animal, a job that took many hours, but ended with a happy ending for the elephant seal, which was able to return safely to the sea,” La Vanguardia said.

Chilean Navy Sergeant José Muñoz was quoted in local media as saying, “The animal traveled quite a few blocks and is now safe and sound from ourselves, humans, and the dogs that hurt it. I want to thank the community for the great support.”

The World Land Trust writes elephant seals are the largest seals and are found across the southern oceans. They arrive onto land on Subantarctic and Antarctic islands, as well as in southern Argentina and Chile. Credit: @paxeko_aysen via Storyful