Seal sparks ‘intense’ conflict in a Bellarine Peninsula town
A seal which has settled in a Bellarine Peninsula town has divided the community.
The seal arrived in St Leonards about three weeks ago and settled at the boat ramp.
Many of the locals love it, with some even volunteering to check on the animal.
But not everybody is happy.
Part of the boat ramp has been roped off due to the seal’s presence, and local fishermen are annoyed, with reports of threats being made against the animal.
St Leonards local Ian Parsons says volunteers looking out for the seal have been abused.
“It’s almost become the beginning of the next world war,” he told Neil Mitchell.
“You’re basically identified by whether you’re in the pro-seal or anti-seal camp.
“I imagine it’ll die down eventually but it’s a bit intense at the moment.”
Press PLAY below to hear from St Leonards locals
Jamie said he was attempting to launch his boat on Monday when his daughter, who was on the ramp guiding him while he was reversing the boat on a trailer, screamed at him to stop.
The seal had moved onto the ramp between the boat and the water.
Jamie said his daughter was stuck between the seal and water and wasn’t happy when he tried to go and help his daughter off the ramp.
“It went to attack me,” he said.
He said the seal needed to be removed.
“I don’t think it should be put down, but it should be taken away,” he said.
Press PLAY below to hear him explain what happened
Victorian fisherman and director of FutureFish Foundation, David Kramer, said the seal needs to be “enticed” to move.
“Can you imagine if this was a reindeer grazing on the side of the Monash Freeway?,” he said.
“This is a heavily used boat ramp and it’s make a little bit more difficult at the moment because Queenscliff boat ramp is actually closed for reconstruction.
“I’d grab a handful of King George Whiting, just entice it out into the water a little bit and let it swim away.
“It doesn’t need to be sitting on the boat ramp.”
Press PLAY below to hear a fisherman’s solution
Image: Lara Parsons