The animal was seen near Leme and Copacabana; lifeguards asked surfers to leave the water so it could rest.
An elephant seal appeared on the beaches of Leme and Copacabana in southern Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, October 6. Photographer Ari Kaye, who observed the animal, told CNN Brasil that around 2 p.m. it was moving along the coast, going in and out of the water.
Kaye said curious onlookers were crowding the animal and disturbing its rest. Lifeguards, concerned about four surfers in the water, used whistles to ask them to leave the sea. The photographer said the animal moved from Lifeguard Post 3 to the Leme rock and then headed toward the Lakes Region.
Environmental authorities said they believed a cold current moving south to north may have carried the seal to Rio’s coast. Elephant seals are rarely seen in the city because their usual habitat is in colder southern waters.
CNN Brasil’s report includes video recorded by Kaye. This article does not add a description of footage beyond details supplied by the source.