Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash

This is the moment a chubby half-ton elephant seal is released back into the sea after becoming stranded in a town canal.

The southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) was spotted in Canal 18 in the town of Lezama in the eastern Argentine province of Buenos Aires and was later released in the Rincon de Ajo nature reserve in San Clemente del Tuyu in the same province.

The female seal, that weighs around 600 kilogrammes (94 stone), reportedly entered the canal from the Salado River

Mundo Marino Foundation expert Gaston Delgado, who took part in the animal’s release, said: “It is normal for this species to leave the sea to breed or moult.”

Delgado said: “In this case, the rising river tide could have sent it to one of the arms of the Salado River until it got to Canal 18 where it became stranded and disorientated once the tide was low.”

After the elephant seal was rescued, Delgado said: “She had a good amount of fur, was well behaved and was a good weight, which meant she found enough food in the canal to eat.”

According to reports, it took over three hours to remove the seal from the canal and a crane was needed to lift it out once it was caught.

The animal was checked by experts before being transported to the beach where it was released and then shepherded down to the water, as seen in this heartwarming video clip.

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