As a nature lover and animal enthusiast, Megan Jacobs is always looking for opportunities to connect with the natural world.
Jacobs, who’s based in Tasmania, Australia, often documents these experiences and shares them on social media, allowing audiences across the globe to enjoy the beauty of her home.
Recently, Jacobs was walking on the beach in Mount William, a national park along Tasmania’s northeast coast, when she spotted what looked like a “ball of kelp” nestled on one of the rocks lining the shore.
Megan Jacobs
Suddenly, the “kelp” began to move. With a start, Jacobs realized the kelp wasn’t kelp at all — it was a small gray seal pup.
“It was so beautiful,” Jacobs told The Dodo. “I’ve always wanted to be one of those people that come across a seal on the beach, but never imagined it would happen.”
Megan Jacobs
The animal lover kept her distance as she marveled at the seal. He appeared to be fresh out of the water and tired from his journey. Jacobs watched in awe as he yawned, scratched himself and began snoozing on the rock.
“I was the only soul there,” Jacobs said. “Just me and the seal.”
Megan Jacobs
According to Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service, seals like this one occasionally come out of the water to rest, mate, moult or give birth. Though seals are less likely to be on land than in water, seeing one of them on the beach is not necessarily a worrying sign.
The Parks and Wildlife Service also notes that the greatest threat to Tasmanian seals doesn’t come from natural predators, but rather from humans, as illegal shooting and plastic entanglement continue to hurt seal populations. Experts encourage locals to be mindful of seals by picking up their trash and ensuring it doesn’t end up in the sea.
Jacobs, for her part, didn’t leave anything behind, and she was sure to give the seal all the space he needed to feel safe.
In the end, the seal went back to his nap, and Jacobs continued on her way, feeling grateful.
“I really wish for you, with all of my heart, the very best,” Jacobs wrote in a note to the seal on Instagram. “Thank you for our short time together.”
