Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre

Founded in 1999 by the late Francois Hugo under the name Seal Alert SA, the Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre (HBSRC) has grown into a vital sanctuary for Cape fur seals in distress. Hugo, often called the “seal whisperer,” dedicated his life to protecting these charismatic marine mammals along South Africa’s Western Cape. After his passing in 2018, the center was revived and restructured by Kim Krynauw and a team of committed volunteers, becoming a registered non-profit and public benefit organization.

Located in the working harbor of Hout Bay, the center specializes in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of orphaned, sick, or injured Cape fur seal pups and yearlings. Young seals typically remain at the facility for up to a year, receiving intensive care including tube feeding, medical treatment, and swimming practice in a dedicated water enclosure. Older seals, often treated as “outpatients,” swim freely in the surrounding ocean and return to the center’s open jetty to rest at night.

Operating under a valid TOPS permit and accredited by South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, HBSRC responds to emergency call-outs across the Cape Peninsula. Their work is especially critical in a region where seals face threats from pollution, entanglement, habitat loss, and human conflict. The center is not open to the public, prioritizing a calm and safe environment for recovery, but it welcomes support through donations and volunteer efforts.