Carmela the seal visits Almería

Right in the middle of Almería’s spring, as Belaerma beach fills with sun seekers , an unexpected Arctic visitor arrives and captures the attention of everyone.

Carmela, the grey seal, who seems to have separated herself from her herd, has taken a trip into the warm waters of the Mediterranean, passing by Cádiz, spotted on the beaches of Manilva, down to Malaga, and now in Almería.

Since 2023, she has travelled through Galicia, Portugal, Cádiz, Malaga, and now Almería, seeking rest, not tourism. Her presence has caused awe but also concern, as Equinac, Almería’s marine wildlife rescue group, requests distance. ‘She’s wild, not a spectacle. She needs peace, not crowds,’ they urge. Carmela appears quite friendly towards humans, even friendly. However, she is a wild animal and needs to be treated accordingly.

‘Carmela’ is something of an outlier, as grey seals rarely venture south from the North Atlantic. Her journey is remarkable, but a fishing hook in her mouth, confirmed by Seprona’s close-up image, raises alarm. Equinac, alongside the Ministry for Ecological Transition, has opted against intervention, noting no infection or feeding issues. ‘Capture stress could be worse than the hook,’ they explain.

People are warned against removing the hook, and risking severe injury or infection, and seal bites, which can lead to hospitalisation.