Overview
- After three days on Los Ayala beach, the seal left on January 30 and was reported Saturday at Punta de Mita in Bahía de Banderas, roughly 57 kilometers away.
- State police said they implemented a protective operation at Punta de Mita to safeguard the animal and keep crowds at a distance.
- PROFEPA’s Roberto Rodríguez Medrano described the seal as a healthy, uninjured young male based on on-site observations.
- Authorities noted the animal was not feeding onshore and said this is normal for elephant seals that rely on fat reserves while resting.
- The visit has drawn steady interest from residents and tourists, and the animal has been widely referred to by the local nickname “Panchito.”