A seal wandered into a road in New Zealand during the morning rush hour.
A seal
Police officers in the city of Dunedin were called out on Thursday (01.07.21) morning after reports that a small mammal was seen crossing the road.
A police spokeswoman explained that officers arrived to discover that the seal had taken up a position in the bicycle lane at the side of the road.
The scene attracted a crowd of onlookers as they helped direct cyclists around the animal.
The New Zealand Department of Conservation explained that seals tend to leave their colonies at this time of year to go exploring.
Andy Thompson, who works at the department, advised people who come across seals to keep a safe distance from the creatures.
He said: "Anyone who encounters a seal should keep 20 metres from it, and ensure any dogs are on leads.
"We advise people to never touch or feed a seal as they can be aggressive if they feel threatened."