Everyone’s favourite elephant seal is not, in fact, back in Greater Victoria after another elephant seal was spotted on a beach in Saanich this week.
Starting Sunday, May 12, residents spotted another elephant seal completing its moult at Cadboro-Gyro Park in Saanich.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) says that while the elephant seal is indeed another male who is roughly the same size and weight as Emerson, it is not the local celebrity seal.
Emerson was last in Greater Victoria on May 9, when he was moved for a second time after he was causing traffic issues in the parking lot of the Victoria Yacht Club.
He was taken to a remote location off the West Coast of the Island, where DFO staff expected him to finish the remainder of his moult without issue.
While Emerson has managed to swim back to Greater Victoria from up Island before, like when he returned from Barkley Sound to the Gorge in less than a week in April, the DFO says this recently spotted seal is not Emerson.
“We have been working with the parks staff and getting up caution tape and a safety area around the animal and adjusting as the animal moves around,” said Paul Cottrell, marine mammal coordinator with the DFO on Thursday.
“Unfortunately the animal moved up into the grassy area and walking path so I moved the animal back to the water earlier today,” he said.
RELATED: Emerson mid-moult: Crowds more respectful as elephant seal continues crowd-pleasing antics
The elephant seal is photographed at Gyro Park on May 13. (Submitted)
Adam Chan
