18 January 2023 , 22:01
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Love Island’s upcoming beach dates could prove perilous: Cape Town residents are on high alert after a bob of toxic fish-crazed seals attacked bathers.
Producers will have to ensure their romantic breaks from the villa are a safe distance from the colony of brain-damaged animals.
Experts believe the seals have become unusually aggressive after digesting a toxic acid produced by marine algae, consumed by the fish they then eat. It is blamed for a mass death among the Cape Peninsula seal population, and for leaving survivors with brain damage.
The usually docile sea mammals have recently attacked an American tourist and a young boy.
A seal is seen attacking a boy who was playing in the shallows of a beach in Cape Town, South AfricaA spear fisherman was almost dragged into the sea by one vicious creature.
Love Island's Haris spills on unaired row between Zara and Tanyel
A source said: “Producers want to film romantic dates in the beautiful beaches of Cape Town, but the behaviour of the local seal population is totally unpredictable at the moment, so they need to be avoided at all costs.”
The algae usually only blooms for a few weeks, but has survived longer this year, possibly due to climate change and pollution.
Love Island bosses are hoping to film romantic dates at the Cape Town beaches (ITV)“The animals that survive domoic acid poisoning suffer neurological damage and we suspect that is what has led to an increase in the number of attacks,” Brett Glasby, from the city’s Two Oceans Aquarium, said.
Raised By Wolves actress Loulou Taylor is seen being pecked by the seals in a video that also shows them bite a boy’s leg.
In tonight's episode of Love Island, new Bombshells Zara and David took Ron and Tanya on dates to a local vineyard. Fortunately, no seals interrupted their stunning setup.
Love Island host Maya Jama (ITV)