Seals sometimes look and act like the adorable dogs of the sea, just with flippers instead of paws. However, while they may look cute, it's important to remember that they are wild animals that at times can be territorial. Seals can attack without warning and there are plenty of reports of them severely injuring people and dogs. So, like other wild creatures, it is best to keep your distance if you are walking on the boardwalk, on a pier, or strolling along the sand on a beach. However, not everyone stays as far away as they should, much like the woman in this video from TikTok. The account @Deolene_Weskus_Livin posted a video of a woman walking on the beach in Western Cape, South Africa and her nasty run-in with a seal. The encounter hit over 9 million views on TikTok and was eventually shared on Tourons of Yellowstone's Instagram page.
@weskus_livin Seal Attack! ! #sealattack #seals #becarefull #unpredictable #wildanimals #weskus #westerncape #run #animalattacks #keepyourdistance
The seal absolutely tears after the woman, who at first tried to run backward to escape, but to no avail. The woman struggled to stay upright and kept falling over, and the seal waddled closer. Eventually, she was able to get away, but it was certainly a close call for a moment.
Many viewers remarked less about the seal and more about the woman falling over and over again. One wrote, "I swear if you don't STOP FALLING." Another chimed in with, "She's running like she's the helpless female protagonist in an early 2000's slasher flick." Others agreed, writing, "So the movies really weren't over dramatic. Y'all just be falling."
Another viewer wrote, "If you can't outrun a seal, then it's better to let nature take its course," a sentiment that was echoed by many TikTokers. Someone else followed up with, "Caught and bitten by a really cute animal with no legs. You'd have to say it was a shark."
A few entertained the idea that maybe the seal just wanted to play: "The way he just lays down when she gets away like, damn come back we were playing." TikTokers who agreed pointed out that the seal looked like a "toddler pouting" at the end. Either way, it's best to keep your distance from these adorable but potentially dangerous sea animals.
