Crews from RAAF Base Richmond on board a C-27J Spartan have transported an unusual load recently – four fur seals from Sea World.
Flying to Coolangatta Airport in Queensland on October 12, the No. 35 Squadron (35SQN) crew loaded the four seals along with Sea World employees.
They were then transported to Moruya Airport on the south coast of New South Wales, where the seals could be released into their natural habitat.
Mitchell Leroy, Curator for Mammals and Birds with Sea World, said the fur seals were juveniles that had survived being separated from their home colony.
“Several months ago we had a very large weather event down the eastern seaboard of Australia,” Mr Leroy said.
“That seems to have caused a lot of very young fur seals to be washed away from their colonies.”
Logistics Officer for the Air Mobility Control Centre, FLGOFF Sarah Fraser, said Air Force was approached by Sea World to carry the fur seals on an opportunity basis.
“We were able to utilise training flying hours to conduct this mission,” FLGOFF Fraser said.
Whilst the fur seals might not be a normal load for the Spartan, they posed little difficulty for the crew.
“The seals were very easy to carry, and very good passengers,” FLGOFF Fraser said.
The task followed Air Force and Sea World’s work in transporting a polar bear in late 2015, and a dugong in early 2016.
The alternative of transporting the fur seals by road or other transport would likely have proven too stressful for the animals.