Henry's Life Today

Over the past five years, Henry has been a regular visitor to Holdfast Shores at Glenelg – one of Adelaide’s most popular beaches.

Some of Henry’s favourite haunts include the beach, the Patawalonga estuary, the marina, as well as resting on the Promenade, in front of restaurants on the marina! He is also frequently sighted swimming between West Beach and the southern beaches – but regularly returns to Glenelg.

Living at Glenelg, which attracts thousands of holidaymakers each year, Henry has grown accustomed to people being in his environment.

Although many people care about Henry, they are also his greatest threat.

To date, Henry has never bitten anyone, although people have given him many reasons to. Unfortunately there have many examples of harmful and inconsiderate behaviour towards Henry which could have proved fatal to him or caused a dangerous incident for the people involved.

If you see Henry please remember the following:

• Please don’t approach or prod Henry. Henry often dozes on the beach or the warm pavement of the Promenade. People wonder if he is alive and kick, prod, poke or throw stones at him to find out. Apart from this behaviour being an offence under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1985, it is unnecessary and creates continual disruptions for him.
• Keep your dogs on a leash. People allow their dogs to investigate Henry - sometimes these dogs become quite aggressive. The Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 requires dogs be kept under control at all times in public. Henry is more than capable of defending himself but once again this disturbance is unprovoked and not in his best interests.
• Please don’t pat him. Although Henry is used to people, he doesn’t want or need their affection. He can respond quite aggressively. People are surprised when this large, apparently gentle creature spins around at lightning speed with teeth bared - a response that simply says ‘leave me alone’.
• Please don’t feed him. Henry’s natural diet is fish, squid and octopus, which he catches from the sea. The food people give him is not appropriate and may make him sick. Wild animals should remain wild and feeding them foods they are not used to can kill them.
• Please don’t litter. Litter kills wildlife. Henry has already vomited up a plastic bag that could have easily caused an intestinal blockage and killed him.
• Boat drivers be aware. Boat drivers can forget there are animals in the water that they can’t always see. Outboard motors and other vessels travelling at speed can hit animals like Henry, resulting in fatal injuries. So remember to watch out for marine animals.

To date, Henry has survived these threats, and continues to delight residents and visitors to Glenelg and Holdfast Shores. If he is to continue to survive people must improve their behaviour and give him a chance. We rely on you - the public - to do the right thing.

Henry and humans – double trouble…

Because Henry has little or no fear of people, he often gets himself into trouble or causes concern for the authorities who protect his welfare.

• Warm bitumen roads. On several occasions Henry has decided the warm bitumen of busy Military Road would provide a good basking spot. Lying in the middle of the road during peak hour traffic causing police some angst, due to the obvious hazard he poses.
• The middle of pathways. Henry sometimes decides to lie in the middle of a pathway and won’t let people walk past, resulting in people having to retrace their steps and take the long way around him.

• Fin Surfing. In this activity seals float on one side with a flipper in the air which acts as a sail. It’s a great way for them to control their body temperature as heat is lost through their flippers and is a fun way to relax. Some people think the seal is drowning, entangled or dying, when really it is just enjoying the sunshine. Fur seals will often cruise the entire length of the Adelaide coastline fin surfing. The police, National Parks and Wildlife, Fisheries, Coast Guard, RSPCA and Project Dolphin Safe continually receive phone calls from concerned observers reporting their whereabouts.
• Going fishing in the Patawalonga estuary. The Patawalonga contains a large population of fish. Henry voluntarily enters and stays here for days. People often assume that because the gate is closed, he is trapped. Again, the public reports his whereabouts and expect him to be rescued. The fact is he doesn’t need or want to be rescued. He’s found the best fishing spot on the coast!
• Boats ahoy! The Holdfast Shores Marina is in the centre of Henry’s home range. Sometimes Henry will take a liking to a particular boat berth and will float in the middle of the water for a few hours - preventing the captain from mooring the boat!

These idiosyncrasies contribute to the much-loved personality that is Henry. And the inconvenience he causes, although sometimes frustrating, is part of the reason for his notoriety and public affection.