A Cape fur seal spotted with a tight noose around its neck in Hout Bay has been successfully freed after a coordinated rescue effort!

Western Cape, South Africa (27 March 2026) – The Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre first raised concern over the weekend when the Cape fur seal was seen with a piece of discarded material cutting into its neck, like a noose.

The photos are difficult to look at, but they show the reality of entanglement. How quickly waste in the ocean can turn into a serious, life-threatening injury…

An initial rescue attempt on Sunday, supported by the NSRI and the Two Oceans Aquarium, was unsuccessful when the seal unfortunately left the harbour before the team could reach him.

Then, on a second sighting, things came together!

“This morning the [Cape fur seal] with the noose around his neck came into the Hout Bay Harbour again. We had everything we needed, the skill, the tools and the dedication. All we needed was a boat to get to him.”

That final piece came down to compassionate people willing to help. The team reached out to Captain Jack’s Ocean Safaris, and without hesitation, they agreed to take Amos, Abel and Jo out on their boat.

“We reached out to Captain Jack’s Ocean Safaris Hout Bay to take [us] out in their boat and they said yes!!”

Using a long hook borrowed from fellow marine heroes at Two Oceans Aquarium, the team was able to reach the seal from the vessel.

“We knew that we would be able to get close enough with the long hook that the Two Oceans Aquarium has lent us to do the job.”

Because everything came together so speedily, the team was able to act quickly when the seal returned.

“So all aboard and out they went. It took one stretch forward, under the noose with the hook, the seal jumped off the pipe and the blade cut up and released the rope.”

The seal is now free and back in the salty ocean water, where its wounds can begin to heal up!

“We are so grateful to Anthea and team from Captain Jacks Safaris and the Aquarium helping us. So now the seal will heal in the salty ocean.”

Cases like this are part of a much bigger problem along South Africa’s coastline. Research tracking Cape fur seals over time has recorded hundreds of entanglements, most linked to discarded fishing gear and plastic waste. These materials can tighten, cut, and worsen wounds over time, which often leads to severe injury or death if animals aren’t reached in time.

That’s why what happens before waste reaches the ocean matters just as much as what happens after. Fishing line left behind on rocks, beaches or harbours can easily be pulled back into the sea by wind and waves, where it becomes almost invisible and incredibly dangerous to marine life.

There are already efforts along the coast trying to intercept this waste early. Projects like WESSA’s Stop the Strangle campaign are rolling out dedicated collection bins at popular fishing spots to catch discarded line before it washes into the ocean.

The Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre are heroes who need help to keep up their meaningful work in rescuing and rehabilitating seals in need across the Western Cape.

The organisation is currently raising funds to cover the costs of a new rescue vehicle as their trusted old bakkie has reached the end of its lifespan. Beyond that, help covering operational costs like medical supplies and fuel is also needed. Your support will help keep the seals safe. Donate here.

Sources: Linked above.

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Off South Africa’s wild coastline, a Bryde’s whale turned the ocean into a stage and delivered a performance no one will forget.

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (14 August 2025) – Every so often, nature gives us a reminder of just how extraordinary it can be… and this one might just be the best thing you see today.

Wildlife enthusiast and photographer, Rolf Kolenbrander, has captured footage so spectacular it’s hard to believe it only has 267 likes on Instagram. Filmed during South Africa’s legendary Sardine Run, the clip shows a Bryde’s whale bursting through a shimmering sardine baitball with precision and power that will leave you breathless.

The Sardine Run is one of the world’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Often called the greatest shoal on Earth, billions of sardines migrate north from the cooler Cape waters to the warmer currents of KwaZulu-Natal each year, creating a feeding frenzy that attracts dolphins, sharks, Cape gannets, and (if you’re lucky) whales. The entire scene is like the ocean’s own festival, and it happens right here in South Africa.

The BBC Wildlife team recently highlighted Kolenbrander’s work, quoting him as saying, “Billions of sardines migrate northward from the cold waters of the Cape to the warmer currents of KwaZulu-Natal, triggering a spectacular feeding frenzy involving dolphins, sharks, Cape gannets and more.”

Rolf spent five seasons chasing this elusive moment, but in 2025, the ocean finally delivered. On a day when the water was crystal-clear and the action intense, his camera was perfectly placed as a Bryde’s whale lunged through the baitball.

“One massive lunge and dozens of fish disappear in an instant,” he wrote on Instagram. “Nature’s precision and power on full display!”

The reaction online has been pure awe.

“What a sight and what a viz, never had it so clear splashing around in SA’s waters!!”

“Helllllyeahhhhh!!!! ”

And yet… only 267 likes? We can’t quite wrap our heads around that. This might be one of the most incredible wildlife shots ever captured in South African waters.

Watch the spectacular video below. And please click through to Rolf’s Instagram to give the video a “like”.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rolf Kolenbrander (@rolf_kolenbrander)

Thank you for sharing this incredible moment Rolf. It’s a reminder that magic still exists… you just have to be in the right place, at the right time, with your eyes (and lens) wide open.

Sources: Rolf Kolenbrander Instagram | BBC Wildlife 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

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Along the pristine coastline of Plettenberg Bay, a massive pod of dolphins made a surprise appearance, and thankfully, Christy Strever was there to capture it all.

Plettenberg Bay, South Africa (07 July 2025) – There are moments that remind us just how beautiful our world can be… and this one is right up there. Christy Strever, a long-time friend of Good Things Guy and absolute magician behind the camera, has been treating her followers to some magic from the Plettenberg Bay coastline… and it’s all thanks to a pod of playful dolphins that seem to love the camera as much as she does.

For those who’ve been following Good Things Guy for a while, Christy’s name may sound familiar. And for good reason. She’s been part of some of our favourite stories over the years: from her amazing food selfies (that got the attention of Gordon Ramsey) and, of course, that unforgettable moment she shaved off all her hair for a cancer awareness campaign. Whatever the moment, Christy brings heart, humour and incredible photography.

Now based in Plettenberg Bay, Christy has been using her lens to show us a softer, wilder side of life. Her latest posts, videos and stills of a massive pod of dolphins gliding, playing and leaping through the waves are something out of a dream.

“The first dolphins for me this season and I was lucky!” she shared. “This is some of the best footage I’ve got of just dolphins. Dolphins are tricky to film because they are soooo quick! However these ones were super chilled and going at the perfect speed for filming (even though I was still in sports mode).”

I’m still an amateur when it comes to videography but man I love it!!”

What she’s captured feels far more than amateur… it’s art. And the response online proves just how much people needed that moment of peace and awe.

One follower commented, “Unbelievable. What a great sighting.” Another added, “That is awesome. Spent many many years surfing… all along our fantastic coastline yet never witnessed such a beautiful moment as the one you captured. Thank you for sharing. Great photography.”

It’s clear the moment touched hearts.

“Isn’t nature breathtakingly beautiful?” another comment read.

And honestly, yes. Yes, it is.

Watch the video below:

Sources: Christy Strever 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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New litter interceptors are being installed in Strand to trap waste, causing water pollution!

Strand, South Africa (30 May 2025) — A cleaner Strand is on the cards thanks to new litter interceptors that are being installed along the Soet River.

A response to volumes of waste that cause water pollution, the litter interceptors are part of a broader initiative driven by the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate’s Catchment Stormwater and River Management chapter.

The initiative aims to install a total of 20 little interceptors in water bodies across Cape Town, with Soet River marking an important milestone.

Because Soet River passes through different areas along the way to False Bay (including Lwandle, Nomzamo and the Greenways Golf Estate), it is susceptible to human interference.

Illegal dumping has become an issue for the river, which naturally becomes an issue for the ocean body it leads to.

The litter interceptors, then, are a way to prevent the litter from travelling to the sea, with three sets to be installed at different intersections. These are Broadway Boulevard and Onverwacht Road (a litter cage), downstream of Broadway Boulevard in another branch of the Soet River (a litter boom) and one at Greenways Estate.

The City says that two of the interceptors will be managed by a fortnightly cleaning effort, while the Greenways Estate body corporate voluntarily will clean its litter boom.

This way, floating litter can be caught before it reaches marine life!

Meanwhile, in more green news that made us feel better about the future, 400 Tons of Glass (over. 1.2 million bottles and jars) successfully avoided landfills thanks to learners across South Africa!

Sources: Supplied

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An in-principle agreement has been reached on overfishing restrictions around critical penguin breeding areas!

South Africa (18 March 2025) – In positive news for the African Penguin, an in-principle agreement has been reached on overfishing restrictions around critical penguin breeding areas!

The CapeNature team have shared they are thankful that the government, seabird conservation organisations and the pelagic fishing industry have worked together to reach this important point that could prove significant for the species.

This agreement, pending final legal formalities, is a big step forward in protecting the future of African Penguin colonies, including those at provincially managed conservation nodes such as Stony Point Nature Reserve, Dyer Island, and Dassen Island.

Breeding colonies here will benefit from continued protection measures and accessing more of their preferred prey – sardines and anchovies – from these closures.

There are also significant management challenges, other than food sources, that need to be addressed if this species is to survive extinction.

Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning said, “This is a move in the right direction for the African Penguin. The agreement is a positive indication that all parties are engaging and want to contribute to the conservation effort.”

“CapeNature is committed to the ongoing conservation efforts of this seabird species and this initial agreement helps to add to the Entity’s broader conservation strategy,” he explained, adding that “CapeNature will continue its monitoring and partnership efforts, which includes collaborating with both municipal and national government departments, NGOs, and local communities to support the long-term survival of the species.”

The Minister concluded by saying,“The African Penguin remains a firm favourite among our many visitors to the Western Cape and are a key contributor to our tourism offering and the many local jobs that it supports.”

As the agreement moves through the final legal steps, CapeNature reaffirms its commitment to conserving the Western Cape’s rich biodiversity, with the African Penguin an important species within the coastal ecosystems and Marine Protected Areas.

Sources: Supplied 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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