The same elephant seal that broke windows in Point Lonsdale on Friday may have reappeared on the Mornington Peninsula, authorities say.
Victoria's Conservation Regulator said there was a southern elephant seal in Blairgowrie that was likely the same one that drew crowds in Point Lonsdale, on the other side of Port Phillip Bay.
The seal in Point Lonsdale caused a stir as it crossed roads and smashed two windows at the local BP, before police and Parks Victoria officers escorted it back to sea.
Chief Conservation Regulator Kate Gavens said after the elephant seal disappeared from Point Lonsdale on Friday, one of the same appearance popped up on Saturday at Blairgowrie.
"We think it could be the same animal," she said.
"It's certainly rare to see elephant seals popping up, we do get quite a few fur seals around our beaches."
Footage shows the seal breaking a wooden fence in its effort to get back on the beach.
Ms Gavens said a wildlife officer on the scene estimated the seal to be about 500 kilograms.
She said the seal is likely resting after sustaining injuries in Point Lonsdale.
"We know it did get a few injuries from its altercation with the glass window on Friday," she said.
Public urged to keep distance from seal
Authorities have erected an exclusion zone around the seal, with Ms Gavens saying it could become defensive if approached.
"On Point Lonsdale, we did see — quite disappointingly — people getting too close to this seal," she said.
"They are quite unpredictable, so if you get up close and personal you really are putting yourself at risk and putting the animal's welfare at risk."
Ms Gavens said the public should stay at least 30 metres away from seals on land or in water, or 50 metres away if with a dog.
It is illegal to touch or feed a seal, with penalties including a potential fine of nearly $3,700.
Conservation Regulator officers were patrolling beaches to ensure people were keeping their distance.
Unlikely seal is local character Henry, former volunteer says
When the seal appeared in Point Lonsdale on Friday, locals speculated it could be Henry, an elephant seal who used to frequent the area around the bay.
But others cast doubt on that theory, saying Henry had not been sighted in about 15 years.
Kelly Kules, who was part of a volunteer group that looked after Henry in Point Lonsdale, said this seal was far too young to be him.
"Henry was around in the early 2000s," she said.
"He was between the age of five and seven then."
University of Tasmania marine researcher Clive McMahon estimated the Point Lonsdale seal was around six or seven years old.
Ms Kules said misbehaviour from Point Lonsdale locals in the early 2000s meant a volunteer group was recruited to keep the public away from Henry.
"A couple of locals down at Point Lonsdale didn't want him down there because they had to shut off the beach, so they were a bit disgruntled," she said.
"I picked the midnight until four shift — I was told that was the best shift because that's when he played up a bit and you got to see a bit of his cheeky side.
"He was a pretty beautiful creature."
She was disappointed to see social media videos of members of the public up close to the recently-spotted Point Lonsdale seal, and said Henry could get aggressive — particularly around men.
"Female volunteers — we could just sit on the beach with him and he wouldn't move, he'd sort of chill there," she said.
The Conservation Regulator said if a member of the public sees a sick, injured or distressed seal, they should call the Marine Response Unit on 1300 245 678 or the Conservation Regulator on 136 186.
