Seal caught on car returns to wild in Australia

A seal that was caught after wandering off into a suburban Australian area has actually been returned to the wild.

The fur seal made worldwide headlines when it was photographed on top of a vehicle in Launceston, Tasmania, on Monday.

The large male, approximated to weigh 200kg (441lb), was first observed in the middle of a street.

The animal was tranquilised at the scene and had been driven to a river and released.

Wildlife biologist Rachael Alderman, from the Marine Conservation Program, stated the moving occurred without incident after the sedative wore off.

“It ended well apart from the poor person with the vehicle,” she informed the BBC on Wednesday.

Called “Mr Lou-seal” by police, the mammal is thought to have taken a trip to Launceston – about 50km (31 miles) from the sea – through close-by waterways.

Dr Alderman informed fur seals were spotted frequently in Tasmania at this duration of year, which is breeding season.

“There’s changes to hormones, so we do get a spike in these big males turning up in places that are a bit unusual,” she stated.

“I guess the thing that was not standard (this time) was a that it was on a car bonnet and the quantity of media interest that it created.”

William Gregory, who was staying at the Launceston home, informed the seal caused small damage to the car.