[imagesource:tiktok/@itstheveganwoolff /screenshot]

Meet Charles, a homeless gentleman with a heart of gold.

Charles shocked seal specialists and rescuers this week when he was found cradling a calm yet sickly baby seal in his arms.

Now, seals are not typically friendly in the way that domesticated animals are – they usually steer clear of human contact, even baring teeth to warn someone when they’re getting a little to close.

That’s why the folks at the Seal Rescue centre in Hout Bay were so amazed by the bond that Charles had created with the baba seal, who he was calling ‘Sammy’.

Not only did Sammy let Charles bundle him up and carry him, but the seal calmly snuggled Charles as the young man searched for help. Although he was unsure what the problem was, Charles’ intuition took over and he knew he had to find someone to assist the precious sea-puppy.

It’s at this point that local South African TikTok creator and foodie known as @itstheveganwoolff spotted Charles and Sammy walking together.

The unlikely trio then tried in earnest to call around and find help for the sick pup, even calling the police to see if there was any way they could assist.

The cops were able to suggest that Hout Bay Seal Rescue was the best place to go, and even escorted the car for the journey to get Sammy the help he needed. The whole ride, Sammy snuggled comfortably up to his new hero.

@itstheveganwoolff Seal Rescue: PLEASE READ Yesterday morning, we came across a man carrying a seal in his arms. Charles, who had found the seal in distress on Glen Beach, had been carrying the seal since the night before and was walking to find someone who could help. After many phone calls and no one being able to assist, because it is outside of their jurisdiction, we eventually were told that Hout Bay Seal Rescue was the best place to take Sammy the seal. Escorted by the police, we took Sammy to the Seal Rescue Centre, where Amos was waiting for us and took Sammy into his care. It is still unclear what was wrong with Sammy, but they suspect he is suffering from severe starvation due to a lack of food availability. Usually, a seal would not allow a human to come close and the team had never seen this before. Here is what you should do if you see an animal in distress: 1. Maintain your distance- do not try to touch or pick up the seal 2.Send a photo and your location to Hout Bay Seal Rescue – 0729885193 3.Do not put them back into the water! 4.Keep people and other animals away from the seal A big thank you to Amos and the team from the Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre and to the City of Cape Town police who were with us every step of the way You can help their cause by donating. I will be checking up on Sammy, so keep a look out for updates. Xx #saveourseas #protectourplanet #protectouroceans ♬ Bloom (Bonus Track) – The Paper Kites

The folks at the rescue centre were astounded by the bond between Charles and Sammy and were able to provide more information about what may be wrong with lil Sammy.

Sadly, Charles and co. were told that Sammy was most likely malnourished due to a lack of food available.

But thanks to Charles, Sammy is now living his best life in Hout Bay, with plenty of fishy treats from seal specialist Amos and the rest of the Seal Rescue team.

Remember, this was a unique incident, but in general you should always keep these rules in mind if you find a stranded or sickly seal:

1. Maintain your distance – do not try to touch or pick up the seal
2. Send a photo and your location to Hout Bay Seal Rescue – 0729885193
3. Do not put them back into the water!
4. Keep people and other animals away from the seal

Love has been pouring in via TikTok for Charles’ kindness, with many people asking for a follow up to see if he is doing ok.

Accordingly to locals, this is not the first time that he has gone out of his way to rescue coastal creatures. Charles clearly has an affinity for animals, and @itstheveganwoolff has assured people in the comments that she’s been looking for Charles (he does not own a cell phone) and is going to see if she can help him secure a job rescuing seals.

We’re rooting for you, Charles! It’s not every day you see an act of pure kindness like this.

[source:tiktok]