Looking for shelter



A story by Federico, Rodrigo and Joan. On the coast (almost closing time)
Having a walk about the reserve, apparently sector 2 and on the coast, I thought I had seen something on the rocks some 100 meters away. With Rodrigo we went closer while Joan walked up the dust road. As we approached there was no doubt that was an animal. By the time we arrived we thought it was a seal!
South American fur seal
09-09-12 © Federico, Rodrigo, Joan
South American fur seal
09-09-12 © Federico, Rodrigo, Joan
South American fur seal
09-09-12 © Federico, Rodrigo, Joan
South American fur seal
09-09-12 © Federico, Rodrigo, Joan
Since Joan was up on the road we told him to inform someone of the reserve staff. We were lucky a cyclist was riding by just at that moment (closing time). He took the responsability for giving notice. In fact, I am not sure whether it took them long to arrive or our anxiety to do something was stronger but we chose to rescue the animal. I must admit, Joan was the bravest of the three. He quickly took his shoes off and went for the poor juvenile. Very carefully, both walking on those rocks and dodging the seal's bites, he managed to grasp it so firmly that we helped him walk up to the dust road.
South American fur seal
09-09-12 © Federico, Rodrigo, Joan
South American fur seal
09-09-12 © Federico, Rodrigo, Joan
Some minutes later the reserve staff arrived in a truck and took us to the temporary home for the fur seal
South American fur seal
09-09-12 © Federico, Rodrigo, Joan
South American fur seal
09-09-12 © Federico, Rodrigo, Joan
Up to that moment everything went well. But when we got off the truck, I was careless and got only a scratch on my right buttock of what would have been a serious bite. For my peace of mind, a girl from the place, if I am not wrong her name was Milena, gave me material to clean the would and after that and with the acknowledgements of the reserve staff, my friends took me to a hospital where I got a tetanus shot.
South American fur seal
09-09-12 © Federico, Rodrigo, Joan